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Madison County - IL 3 in Granite City Phase I Study
IL Route 3 from New Poag Road to Northgate Industrial Drive Granite City, Madison County, Illinois
The project corridor generally resides within the City of Granite City and the Village of Hartford, but a portion of the corridor is within unincorporated Madison County.
Welcome to the website for the roadway improvements on IL Route 3 from New Poag Road to Northgate Industrial Drive in Madison County, Illinois. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) created this site to provide information about the progress of the project and to facilitate public input and participation. If you would like to submit your comments or questions or sign up for the project mailing list, please visit the (Get Involved) section on this page. Thank you for your interest in the IL Route 3 Roadway Improvements project.
Please check this website regularly for project updates.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is performing a Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Study to analyze roadway improvements along IL Route 3 from New Poag Road to Northgate Industrial Drive in Granite City and Hartford, Madison County, Illinois.
The project is being developed in accordance with IDOT’s Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP) program, which focuses on strategic ways to extend the service life of facilities. The project is anticipated to consist of pavement replacement. Other elements, such as intersection improvements, pedestrian accommodations, safety upgrades and general corridor geometric improvements, will be evaluated in the context of TAMP program goals.
All intersections within the project limits will be evaluated for geometric and safety deficiencies. Major intersections include New Poag Road, Chain of Rocks Road, and Northgate Industrial Drive. Minor intersections include Oldenburg Road, Lambert Lane, St. Thomas Road (North), Franko Lane, St. Geil Drive, Thomas Road (South), and Schaeffer Road. Many of the minor intersections appear to have insufficient sight distances and/or roadway profile grades that do not meet current design standards.
IDOT is conducting a separate study at the interchange of I-270 and IL Route 3 as part of the I-270 Preliminary Engineering Study. The proposed improvements from that interchange project will be considered existing conditions for this IL Route 3 corridor project.
BACKGROUND
The roadway was constructed in the early 1960s and has been rehabilitated multiple times since. The Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) within this corridor ranges from 12,400 to 16,100 vehicles per day. This portion of IL Route 3 serves the trucking and agriculture industry, and is surrounded by mixed use of industrial, commercial, residential, and wetlands.
The project corridor generally resides within the City of Granite City and the Village of Hartford, but a portion of the corridor is within unincorporated Madison County. The project is located approximately one-half mile east of the Chain of Rocks Canal.
IDOT’S THREE-PHASE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Phase I: Current Phase of the Project
The IL Route 3 Roadway Improvements Study is currently in Phase I, and there is an approximate 24-month schedule for the Phase I work. Proposed highway improvements are typically processed in three phases. In Phase I (preliminary engineering phase), proposed geometry, environmental concerns, and right-of-way requirements are defined. During Phase II, contract plans are prepared, and the necessary right-of-way is acquired. Phase III represents the actual construction of the improvements. All phases are identified in the FY 2025-2030 Proposed Highway & Multimodal Improvement Program.
PHASE I: PRELIMINARY DESIGN & ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY
IDOT and its engineering consultant team will inventory existing conditions, such as traffic data and crash history, and will identify and document environmental constraints as the project moves forward in the process. The Project Study Group (PSG), with input from the public, will also develop and refine improvement alternatives. The result of the study will be a preferred alternative for a corridor that addresses identified transportation issues and serves the area’s future needs. Public involvement will take place through all three phases of project development and implementation.
Phases I/II and III have been identified in the Department’s FY 2026-2031 Proposed Highway & Multimodal Improvement Program.
The project is using a public involvement program referred to as Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS).
Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS)
An important part of the corridor project is public participation. IDOT utilizes CSS as a way to continually engage stakeholders in the study. As identified in IDOT’s CSS policies, stakeholder involvement is critical to a study’s success. The CSS process strives to achieve the following:
· Understand stakeholder’s key issues and concerns
· Involve stakeholders in the decision-making process early and often
· Establish an understanding of the stakeholder’s role in the study
· Consider all modes of transportation
· Apply flexibility in design to address stakeholder’s concerns whenever possible
For more information on IDOT's CSS process, please visit the following website at: Context Sensitive Solutions
Stakeholder Involvement Plan (SIP)
The goal of the SIP is to outline a program of activities to actively engage stakeholders throughout the Phase I process. The objectives of the SIP are to:
· Identify stakeholders
· Identify the roles and responsibilities of the lead agency
· Establish the timing and type of outreach activities with all stakeholders
· Establish stakeholder requirements for providing timely input to the study development process
· Provide an approach for evaluating the effectiveness of the public-participation program and refine, as appropriate, to respond to public needs and concerns
View The Stakeholder Involvement Plan
Project Study Group (PSG)
The PSG consists of representatives from IDOT, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the study consultant team. The PSG is tasked with performing detailed analyses of subjects that require various environmental, engineering, and project development expertise. As a result, the PSG will determine study recommendations and decisions for this study.
Per IDOT’s CSS procedures, IDOT has formed the initial PSG. However, to maintain an optimal multi-disciplinary team, this group may change as the study progresses and the understanding of the study’s context is clarified.
Public Informational Meetings
Public involvement for the IL Route 3 Roadway Improvements Study will include multiple opportunities for the general public to participate through public informational meetings. These meetings will foster public awareness of study developments and alternatives that are being evaluated. These meetings will also provide a forum for general stakeholder input, including concerns and comments regarding decisions to be made during the project development process. All meetings will have comment forms and will be available online. These meetings will be held both in-person and online through the website.
The project includes multiple opportunities for you to participate.
· Website: Visit this project website regularly for updates.
· Mailing List: Sign up, via email, to receive the project newsletter and public meeting announcements.
· Submit Comments to: cindy.stafford@illinois.gov
· Public Meeting: Look for announcements in the local media, flyers in libraries, city hall, and other local community centers. Watch for roadway message boards for announcements.
JOIN THE MAILING LIST – SUBMIT COMMENTS & QUESTIONS
IDOT values your comments and questions. We provide responses to all questions and strive to do so in a timely manner.
All contact information is kept private and is for the sole use of the IL Route 3 Roadway Improvements Study and will not be distributed to any entity outside of IDOT. When submitting a question or comment, your name will be added, if you choose, to the project mailing list so that you can be notified of any upcoming public involvement activities.
Please fill out our Online Comment Form. If you prefer, you may contact us by U.S. mail, phone, or e-mail, and you can request to be added to the mailing list.
If you have questions or comments about this project, please contact Cindy Stafford, P.E. at (618) 346-3147 or by e-mail at cindy.stafford@illinois.gov. Or you can mail:
Illinois Department of Transportation Location Studies
Attn: Cindy Stafford
1102 Eastport Plaza Drive
Collinsville, IL 62234
What is the purpose of this study?
The purpose of this study is to determine proposed improvements that are needed to enhance the pavement integrity along IL Route 3 from New Poag Road to Northgate Industrial Drive in Madison County, Illinois. Traffic capacity will not be increased as a part of this project.
Why is IDOT studying this roadway?
This portion of IL Route 3 was constructed in the early 1960s and has been rehabilitated multiple times since. This project was initiated due to the poor condition rating and the continual deterioration of the pavement.
Will additional Right-Of-Way (ROW) be required with this project?
It is a possibility that ROW may be required with this project; however, this has not been determined. IDOT is in the initial stages of this preliminary engineering study. Once the scope of work is determined and a design is developed, the amount of additional ROW needed, if any, will be determined.
How will construction of this project be completed?
This has not yet been determined. Once a scope of work has been determined, in conjunction with input from the public, a preliminary design will be developed. As part of that, an analysis will be done to evaluate various construction methods to minimize delays and/or adverse travel to the motoring public.
What is the current stage of project development?
Proposed highway improvements are typically processed in three district phases. In Phase I (preliminary engineering phase), public involvement, proposed geometry, environmental concerns, and right-of-way requirements are defined. This phase is estimated to be 24 months. During Phase II, contract plans are prepared, and the necessary right-of-way is acquired. This phase generally takes approximately 24 months. Phase III represents the actual construction of the improvement. This phase is still “to be determined,” as construction methods vary. This project is currently in Phase I.
How much is this project going to cost?
While the construction cost has not yet been determined since the detailed design has not been developed, $59.2 million has been identified in the Department’s FY 2025-2030 Rebuild Illinois Highway Improvement Program.