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IDOT Blog – Monday, August 18, 2025
Employee Spotlight: District 2 Local Roads and Streets Engineer Shawn Ortgiesen
Local Roads and Streets Engineer Shawn Ortgiesen began his career at IDOT as a summer technician during college. Throughout his 10 years with the department, he served in the Engineering Cooperative Education Program and as a local roads field liaison engineer before being promoted to his current position.
Here are some of his thoughts about his job and life outside of IDOT.
Tell me about your current job?
As the District 2 Local Roads and Streets Engineer, I work with our Local Roads team to complete successful transportation projects in partnership with local public agencies. Our mission is to assist and provide safe, cost-effective transportation for the local public agencies in our district in the use of their federal, state and motor fuel tax funds.
Favorite part of the job?
Building relationships. We’re continuously working with other departments at District 2, Central Office, the Federal Highway Administration and the local public agencies. Working together benefits projects and the traveling public.
Anything to highlight?
We as a group are trying to be proactive and better inform our local public agencies in the district on the guidelines and procedures required for the use of transportation funds and to help set clear expectations and avoid unnecessary challenges along the way.
What’s important about your department?
Many people have said in our statewide Local Roads team that we are an IDOT within IDOT, as we deal with every aspect of a project. From planning, funding, design reviews, construction and final project closeout, we are involved with all phases of a project.
People may not know that we have involvement in small maintenance projects that are important to communities all the way up to large transportation projects that affect entire regions. Being able to communicate and listen to all stakeholders in a project is very important.
What’s your background?
I have a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and besides IDOT, I have worked for a local public agency and two engineering consulting firms.
What prepared you for your current role?
The education and experience that I have gained throughout my career has led me perfectly to my current role at IDOT. Throughout the many twists and turns of my local public agency experience, along with my time in the consulting world of remembering scope, schedule and budget, I believe I was destined for this position. Being able to see the project from all angles gives wonderful perspective on the ultimate goal of completing a successful project that benefits the taxpayer.
What do you like to do outside the office?
I have always loved to play sports and now mostly enjoy my children’s activities in high school and college. I’m a lifelong Cubs fan who loves extra-inning games and enjoys serving and sharing in the community and local church.
Anything else you’d like people to know about you?
Through others in our Local Roads group and a retired Local Roads field engineer, I’m aware that for every one mile of roadway, there are two miles of ditches to fall into, so we need to be careful.