Meeting to discuss Route 3 project July 15

Pictured is a view of Route 3 construction just north of Gall Road in Waterloo last week. (Alan Dooley photo)

As work on the Route 3 widening project accelerates in Waterloo, the Illinois Department of Transportation has scheduled a public informational meeting for Tuesday, July 15, to present its anticipated construction schedule and staging plan.

The meeting will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. at Waterloo City Hall, and will be conducted in an open house format.

Handouts and display boards will be made available for public review, and representatives from both IDOT and consulting firm Horner & Shifrin will be available to discuss the project and answer any questions from residents.

IDOT said that for the Vandebrook portion of the project, workers will continue road widening efforts on the east side of Route 3. The east shoulder is closed during these widening operations.

The new Vandebrook Drive alignment with South

Market Street and signals will not be opened to traffic until close to the end of 2014, IDOT has said.

The much larger Route 3 bypass lane addition project is expected to be completed by the fall of 2016.

For the bypass portion of the project, IDOT said the contractor will continue work on storm sewer and dirt work where there are no utility conflicts.

IDOT clarified that the lift recently placed in the project area is a polymer binder asphalt rather than a surface lift. The binder will be driven on until the final two-inch polymer surface mix is placed.

In all, the project involves 4.3 miles of roadway from North Market to South Market streets in two phases, plus the relocation of Vandebrook Drive.

The current two-lane highway is being widened to five lanes, with flush medians and turn lanes installed where appropriate.

Other features of the project include a roundabout just west of Route 3 on Park Street near the Monroe County Farm Bureau office, a stoplight at Illinois Avenue, and a 10-foot-wide shared use path for walkers and bicyclists near Library Street.

Those requiring special accommodations for the July 15 meeting are asked to call 618-346-3354 so arrangements can be made.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Corey Saathoff

Corey is the editor of the Republic-Times. He has worked at the newspaper since 2004, and currently resides in Columbia. He is also the principal singer-songwriter and plays guitar in St. Louis area country-rock band The Trophy Mules.
HTC web
MonroeCountyElectric300X15012_19