The City has submitted a grant application with IDOT for the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) to receive funding to assist in the cost of improvements to the Windsor Road Bridge approaches to the Interstate 57 Bridge. The ITEP program awards grant dollars for transportation safety and enhancement projects. The application deadline was May 29. The City last received an ITEP award for enhancements to the Curtis Road and Interstate 57 Bridge. The grant requests $1.7M to match the City’s $1.1M local match for a total project cost of $2.8M. The project would reconstruct the bridge approaches to Complete Street standards with two vehicular travel lanes, bike lanes and sidewalks. The design would match the expected IDOT design of the bridge which is scheduled to be replaced in 2013. A project to reconstruct the bridge approaches would likely commence in 2014. An announcement on the ITEP grant program is typically made in November. The grant application process was coordinated by the Planning and Public Works Departments with assistance from Clark Dietz, Inc. and the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission. The grant received fourteen letters of support including a letter from each legislative representative and various interest groups and organizations including the YMCA, Champaign County Bikes, Second Wind Running Club, Prairie Cycle Club, the CUMTD and the Trails at Chestnut Grove Homeowners Association. For questions contact Rob Kowalski, Assistant Planning Director/403-8800.
Windsor Road Bridge and approaches – currently an “incomplete street” and a dangerous situation for bicyclists and pedestrians.