Effingham Daily News, Effingham, IL

Local News

Related Photos

  • IDOT engineer Michael Fox explains the ongoing interstate reconstruction project during the First Friday luncheon. Bill Grimes

    Interstate constuction

Discussion

Add a comment on this story
February 7, 2011

Interstate construction stuck in neutral

IDOT unsure when state will resolve funding issue

Bill Grimes Effingham Daily News

EFFINGHAM — An Illinois Department of Transportation engineer declined to guess Friday whether legal controversy surrounding the funding source for an ongoing interstate construction project would delay the final two phases of the four-phase project.

    While Michael Fox said during the monthly First Friday luncheon sponsored by the Greater Effingham Chamber of Commerce & Industry that the recent court ruling declaring a capital funding bill unconstitutional was simply a “technicality” that involved nothing more than legislative reworking of the bill, he backed away from that statement after the luncheon.

    “IDOT is hopeful the funding issue will be cleaned up,” Fox said. “But any time you’re dealing with Springfield, there’s no time frame.”

    An Illinois appellate court recently declared the funding bill unconstitutional because more than one funding source is covered in the same bill. Gov. Pat Quinn immediately appealed the ruling to the Illinois Supreme Court, however, where action is pending.

    As it stands now, the $155 million project is not scheduled for completion until 2015. The major part of the project is a widening of the interstate roadway from four to six lanes between the trilevel interchanges on either side of Effingham.

    Fox said the first two phases won’t be affected by the funding controversy because they have already begun. The first phase — with a price tag of about $45.8 million — includes reconstruction of the I-70 bridge over the Little Wabash River and redevelopment of the south trilevel where interstates 57 and 70 merge.

    The second phase, with an estimated cost of $13.9 million, involves reconstruction of the Fayette Avenue interstate overpass and surrounding interchange.

    Phase I has a scheduled completion date of July 1, 2012, while Phase II is targeted for completion this coming Nov. 1.

    The project was developed after state officials determined a daily traffic count of about 26,000 vehicles was too much for a four-lane highway. Fox said the latest traffic count showed a daily average of about 29,000 vehicles passing through Effingham on the interstate.

    “That’s just too many vehicles for two lanes (each way),” Fox said.

    The project also includes 20 video cameras and 24 message boards. Fox said a Doppler video system monitors traffic at all times.

    Master Sgt. Cory Ristvedt of the Illinois State Police acknowledged troopers are enforcing a 55-mile per hour work zone speed limit at all points between trilevels — even where no work is being conducted at present. But Ristvedt said troopers are not using cameras to monitor speeding in the zone.

    “We have been doing periodic enforcement between the two trilevels,” Ristvedt said. “But our department has not been utilizing the contractor’s cameras for traffic enforcement.”

    Ristvedt added troopers are concentrating enforcement efforts near actual work sites. He warned that speeds in those areas are reduced to 45 miles per hour when workers are present.

    Bill Grimes can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 132 or bill.grimes@effinghamdailynews.com.

Text Only
Local News
  • Boil order issued

    Effingham Water Department has issued a boil order for the following streets.

    May 16, 2012

  • Unit 50 faces state aid cuts

    Like all Illinois school districts, Teutopolis Unit 50 is hanging in the proverbial wind by doing business in a state that is financially struggling, to put it mildly.

    May 16, 2012

  • Lifesavers

    After Central School students were recognized for top grades or perfect attendance, two teachers were acknowledged for their bravery and quick-thinking when they saved a little boy’s life.

    May 16, 2012

  • Parkersburg man dies in motorcycle crash Sunday

    The Parkersburg man who was killed in a Sunday afternoon motorcycle accident south of Newton suffered severe head injuries, but the coroner who pronounced him dead in a hospital emergency room said it wasn’t certain whether wearing a helmet would have saved his life.

    May 16, 2012

  • City turns land over to park district

    Land originally intended for the proposed sports complex will be handed over to the Effingham Park District after the Effingham City Council discussed exchanging property near Evergreen Hollow Park for right of way and construction easements.

    May 16, 2012

  • Man fatally struck by train

        A Greenup man was killed Tuesday morning when he was struck by a train.
      

    May 15, 2012

  • Local veterans plan dedication for new memorial

    Veterans and their admirers will have something to celebrate Saturday morning. That’s when local veterans groups are holding a dedication ceremony for the new veterans memorial on the southwest corner of the old Effingham County Courthouse square at the corner of Fourth Street and Jefferson Avenue in downtown Effingham.

    May 15, 2012

  • Boil order issued

    Effingham Water Department has issued a boil order for West Jefferson Avenue from Fourth Street to North Banker Street on both sides of the street until further notice.

    May 15, 2012

  • Keller to retire

    He fell into education by circumstance, but it turned out to be the best learning experience. The opportunity to move from assistant principal to business manager came out of nowhere, but it was a job he took almost immediately.

    May 15, 2012

  • Flag ceremony Flag ceremony

    Sigel American Legion Cmdr. Roger Westjohn, right, and Chaplain Tom Schutte dispose of tattered flags during a ceremony in Sigel May 11.

    May 15, 2012 1 Photo