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Illinois Department of Transportation

Employee Profile: District 9 Studies and Plans Project Engineer Valerie Rolla

IDOT Update - 2025 – Tuesday, May 27, 2025

District 9 Studies and Plans Project Engineer Valerie Rolla is a 25-year IDOT veteran. Originally joining the team as a construction inspector, she later became a resident engineer before rotating into Studies and Plans as a designer. After that, Rolla became a squad leader and has been a project engineer in southern Illinois for the last five and a half years.

Here are some of her thoughts about her job and life outside of IDOT.

Tell me about your current job?

I oversee both consultants and in-house designers. We prepare Phase I reports and plans, specifications and estimates for letting. My team works on a variety of projects, including reconstruction on Interstate 64 and add lane projects on I-57, as well as rehabilitation, resurfacing, slope repair and patching of various state highways in District 9.

Favorite part of the job?

Seeing projects that I have worked on completed.

Anything to highlight?

I am excited to get the last pieces of the I-57 expansion project to letting this fiscal year. When this project is complete, I-57 will be six lanes from I-24 south of Marion to I-64 near Mount Vernon.

Anything to tell us about your department?

My department is responsible for preparing Phase I reports as well as preparing plans, specifications and estimates for letting.

Tell us a little bit about your background?

I graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale with a degree in civil engineering. I spent one year working for St. Louis County Highway Department before starting my career at IDOT, where I had spent time working while at SIU.

What prepared you for your role at IDOT?

I was always interested in math, so that led to majoring in civil engineering. Working in both construction and design on a wide variety of projects while at IDOT has helped me in my role as project engineer.

Hobbies?

I spend most of my free time watching my kids play sports and working on projects around the house with my husband.