• The City of Champaign offers an Adopt-A-Highway program for established organizations with an acting President and Group Coordinator.
• Groups must provide volunteers with signed waivers, schedule cleanups at least four times per year, and remove and dispose of all collected litter.
• The City provides training resources, safety signs, safety vests, and placing Adopt-A-Highway signs at the adopted section of roadway.
• Volunteers must participate in safety training and wear City-supplied safety vests while engaged in cleanup activities.
• Roadways must be at least one mile in length and considered primary roadways within the City.  Approval of the selected roadways by the Administrative Services Division is required.
• Contracts are for a maximum of three years and can be renewed after the initial two-year commitment.  However, the City reserves the right to cancel an agreement if the contract terms are not being fulfilled.
• Cleanups should be scheduled in writing two weeks and accompanied by a list of participants with waivers on file.  To schedule a cleanup, send an email to [email protected], and add “Adopt-A-Highway” and your group name on the subject line.
• Materials collected must be disposed of properly.

For additional information contact:

Adopt-a-Highway Coordinator
Public Works Department | 217-403-4700 | [email protected]

The State of Illinois also has an Adopt-A-Highway program.

Right-of-way shall mean property owned by the City for use by the public as a means of passage; and shall include the street, alley, sidewalk, and parkway.  It is intended for traffic movement, utilities, and similar public uses such as roads, clear zones for traffic safety, sidewalks, and pathways for pedestrian safety, utility services above, at, and below ground, and for snow storage. A right-of-way generally extends 25 to 33 feet from the centerline of the road onto the lawn area.

During the winter season, the right-of-way behind the roadway is reserved for snow storage to expedite snow removal. This area may extend seven feet or more beyond the road edge. Information about landscaping and maintenance in these areas can be found in Chapter 35-18 of the City’s Municipal Code.

Rights-of-way vary in width, with most being 50 to 66 feet wide.

2007 Pavement Markings Master Plan

The Operations Division is responsible for mowing City-owned vacant lots. The Champaign Park District maintains certain lots designated for future Boneyard Creek projects under contract. The City also maintains mowing of certain ditch lines and overpasses in the rural areas that are deemed “unmowable” (deep ditch lines, etc.).  All other parkway maintenance is the responsibility of the property owner.

The following is a list of permits available through the Public Works Department and will be discussed in detail below:

• Right-of-Way Occupancy Permit
• Right-of-Way Excavation Permit
• Drive Approach Permit
• Sanitary Sewer Permit
• Storm Sewer Permit
• Sidewalk Permit
• Grading and Drainage Permit

According to the Champaign Municipal Code, which is detailed in Chapter 30 focusing on Streets, Sidewalks, and Public Ways, permits are required. Specifically, Section 30-400 prohibits anyone from building anything or doing any work on a structure within, over, under, across, or near any public area without a permit from the City. The individual doing the work must provide proof of insurance that includes the City of Champaign as an additional insured. A $10,000 bond is mandatory for digging in public areas. The City Engineer’s office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays, excluding City Holidays, at the Public Works Department, 702 Edgebrook Drive.

Right-of-Way Occupancy Permit

The City Engineer is empowered to issue a right-of-way occupancy permit for any use of City streets or other public property of periods of no longer than 180 days for construction purposes.  Fees for issuance of a temporary permit pursuant to this section shall be as follows:

Fees for total closure of the street shall be double the lane fees.  Occupancy of a traffic lane requires payment for the adjacent on-street parking, if metered.

Right-of-Way Excavation Permit

Section 30-430 of the Champaign Municipal Code states “no excavations or trenches in any public right-of-way in the City for any purpose including but not limited to sewer, drain, water, gas, steam, electrical, telephone, cable, video, internet, or other communication services and lines shall be made without first obtaining a permit from the Director of Public Works as provided in this Article”. The permit fee is $25.

Drive Approach Permit

A driveway approach permit shall mean that part of a driveway or of any asphalt or concrete surface or pavement located in public right-of-way. A permit is required for any work covering the construction, maintenance, or repair of a driveway approach. The permit fee is $70.

Sanitary Sewer Permit

No person shall install, connect, or replace any private or public sewer without first obtaining any necessary approval and permits from the City Engineer, the Urbana Champaign Sanitary District, and the Environmental Protection Agency of the State. The City fee for the permit is $70.

Storm Sewer Permit

A permit is required to make a new connection or modification to an existing connection to the stormwater drainage system or to make any connection, which causes stormwater runoff to empty into the stormwater drainage system. The permit fee is $70.

Sidewalk Permit

A permit is required to construct, maintain, or repair a sidewalk in the right-of-way. The permit fee is $70 per 100 lineal feet or part thereof.

Grading and Drainage Permit

A permit is required for all construction/improvements with 500-sq. ft. or more of new impervious area. A grading and drainage permit plan will need to be submitted with the permit application. Information required on the grading and drainage permit plan includes (most of this information can be found on the subdivision plans or interpolated from them):

• Lot corner elevations.
• Building pad elevations.
• Lowest finished floor elevation.
• Surface water flow patterns.
• Statement that the project is (is not) within 100 feet of a 100-year floodplain.
• If the project is within 100 feet of a 100-year floodplain, the boundaries (if on the site) and elevation of the floodplain must be indicated, and the lowest floor of any habitable building must be at least one foot above the 100-year flood elevation.

All new construction and renovations that are not in a floodplain require a grading and drainage permit before work starts, except a permit is not required for:

• Excavation or fill less than 50 CY, with less than a 4-foot cut, disturbing less than 5,000 SF of plant cover.
• Any interior remodeling.
• Additions, remodeling, or accessory structures smaller than 500 SF which disturb less than 2,000 SF on the site.
• Demolition.
• Accessory items with minimal impact on drainage like: Sidewalks, playground equipment, decks, small patios, athletic fields, etc.

Development within a floodplain is much more tightly restricted. If you are working within a floodplain, call Public Works at 217-403-4700 for details.  If you don’t know whether or not you are within a floodplain, call Public Works or search for your address at www.floodsmart.gov.  Information may also be found on floodplains.

Permit fee schedule, effective April 1, 1998

• One- and Two-family new construction and additions, $50
• Commercial new construction and additions, with total impervious area under 15,000 SF, $200
• Commercial, with total impervious area between 15,000 SF and 75,000 SF, $400
• Commercial new construction and additions, with total impervious area over 75,000 SF, $600
• Construction in flood fringe, take above rates x 1.5
• Construction in floodway, take above rates x 2.0

View information on erosion control.

The Public Works Department responds to approximately 500 pothole patching service requests per year.  Requests are placed via e-mail: [email protected]; phone: 217-403-4700; or by using the See-Click-Fix mobile app.

What causes a pothole?

Over time, cracks appear in roads, letting water, ice, and solid materials into the road’s structure. This can lead to erosion of the road’s base, causing it to crack, chip, and form potholes or bigger cracks. Freezing and thawing cycles, along with wet roads, make these cracks wider and weaker under the weight of vehicles. This can suddenly create potholes overnight where none were before. Bus stops and busy intersections are especially at risk, as the weight of vehicles can cause the road to crack.

What is your response time for filling potholes, and why is it sometimes not met?

Generally, the response time is within 24-48 hours.  However, during harsh winter seasons where streets may have hundreds of potholes, this time frame may not always be met due to several reasons.  Potholes on the side of the road can be repaired by the City, but some defects require a longer-term fix. Some potholes may be on state-owned streets, wherein IDOT has their own procedures. Emergency repairs may be made when public safety is at risk.

Why are there so many potholes during the winter and spring?

Winter and spring, with their wet weather and changing temperatures, stress roads, leading to cracks and potholes.  Temporary fixes often don’t last, especially when snowplows remove patching materials or traffic shifts them, allowing water and cold to return.  Water in these holes can erode the surrounding road, enlarging the pothole.  Potholes are more common in winter with heavy snow or spring with frequent rain.  They can also appear after sunny weather following a storm due to melting snow.

How can I report a pothole?

Various methods are available to report a pothole.  These include emailing or calling Public Works and submitting a service request, or using the See-Click-Fix mobile app available for free download.

May I request a cone or barricade for potholes on my street? 

You may request cones or barricades for potholes on your residential street; however, Public Works will determine whether the placement of the cone or barricade may be more detrimental to traffic flow and take other measures to alleviate the problem.

When will your pothole patching crews get to my neighborhood to fix potholes (after harsh winter seasons or spring storms)?

Pothole patching crews use a systematic approach to fixing potholes. Rather than moving often heavy equipment to respond to a single pothole on one side of town and then responding to another request at the opposite end of town, we localize our approach to make the most efficient use of assets.  However, we do respond to emergency repairs with a smaller crew when available.

What kind of equipment does the City use to fix potholes?

Public Works has various pieces of equipment to fix potholes, but most pothole patching requires the physical labor of our crews shoveling asphalt from the back of truck beds or front-end loader buckets (scoops).  Public Works does have equipment designed specifically for pothole patching, such as a Pothole Sprayer-Injector truck which provides a more-efficient manner of patching potholes and a hot-asphalt (warmer) truck which makes shoveling hot asphalt much easier for our crews.

Public Works also rents equipment from time-to-time when an inordinate amount of potholes form during harsh winter or spring seasons.

What can I do to help?

While we appreciate the offer from citizens to help out with patching potholes, Public Works crews are trained to operate in hazardous conditions (such as traffic) and require additional training.  The best thing a citizen can do is report a pothole and slow down when they see crews patching potholes on City streets.

The City encourages citizens to report potholes to the Operations Division at 217-403-4700, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except City Holidays. Please provide City staff with your name, address, telephone number, location of pothole, and as much detailed information as possible. This information is very helpful to staff trying to respond to your request. After business hours, on weekends, or holidays, you will receive a pre-recorded message with general instructions and emergency information. Please leave detailed information to ensure prompt response. You can also email the department at [email protected] or try the City’s free mobile reporting app SeeClickFix (available through the iTunes store or Google Play for Android).

The Public Works Operations Division manages the City’s sidewalks.  Please contact the Public Works Operations Division at 217-403-4700 if tripping hazards are identified.

If you notice a streetlight that is out, dim, or blinking, please call 217-403-4700 during normal working hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  You can also report a streetlight malfunction by emailing us: [email protected].  Please provide your name and phone number, address where the light is positioned on the street, and the side the streetlight is on.  

Once a report has been made, the City will determine who owns the light. If it is a City-owned light, efforts to repair the light within 48 hours are made. If it is an Ameren Illinois light, the City will notify Ameren of a problem as they are responsible for repairing the light.

1993 Streetlighting Master Plan

To report any sign that has been knocked down or is missing, contact Public Works at 217-403-4700 during normal business hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  You may also send an email to [email protected].

To report a knocked down or missing stop sign after hours, please call 217-351-4545, and select option “0”.

Detailed information regarding the City’s Honorary Street Name Designations may be found here.

Concerns, requests, and suggestions regarding traffic safety are considered Traffic Service Requests. Generally, these requests ask for something new or for a change to an existing condition. Some examples of common Traffic Service Requests include:

• Installation of stop signs
• Changes to parking restrictions
• Issues related to crosswalks
• School area concerns
• Concerns regarding speed of traffic in residential neighborhoods

Requests can be submitted by contacting the Public Works Department at 217-403-4700 or [email protected].

To report a traffic signal outage or malfunction during normal working hours of 7:30 a.m.  to 4:30 p.m., please contact Public Works at 217-403-4700.   You can also report routine signal outages or malfunctions to our email at [email protected].

For after-hours emergency traffic signal problems, please call 217-351-4545, and select option “0”.

How a HAWK signal works

HAWK Signal Demonstration Video

Where is it?

BRADLEY AVENUE at DSC

Why is it needed?

Click to enlarge instructions

Bus stops located on both sides of Bradley Avenue at Developmental Services Center are highly utilized by patrons of DSC and area residents. This section of Bradley Avenue is perpetually on the list of streets with speeding problems with the majority of drivers regularly driving 10 or more miles per hour over the posted 35 mph speed limit.

Over the years, the City of Champaign and DSC have worked together to use all available tools for an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing to make it as safe as possible. The HAWK takes the next step for enhancing pedestrian safety by requiring vehicular traffic to stop.

Washington Street Underpass

University Avenue Underpass

Chester Street Underpass

Logan Street Underpass

Springfield Avenue Underpass

Green Street Underpass

Stadium Drive Underpass

Kirby Avenue Underpass

St. Mary’s Road Underpass

Windsor Road Underpass