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Knoxville Avenue Reconstruction Project
Welcome to the Knoxville Avenue Reconstruction webpage! Here you can access general project information, the project schedule, community involvement, FAQs, project updates and contact information.
The project limits include Knoxville Avenue (Illinois 40) from north of Pennsylvania Avenue to north of U.S. 150 (War Memorial Drive).
Knoxville Avenue (Illinois 40) Reconstruction Project: Peoria-Currently in Phase I Environmental Study, includes Knoxville Avenue, north of Pennsylvania Avenue to north of War Memorial Drive (U.S. 150)
Study
The Illinois Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, has begun a study for the proposed reconstruction of Knoxville Avenue (Illinois 40), including its intersection with U.S. 150 (War Memorial Drive) in Peoria. IDOT has contracted the firm of TERRA Engineering Ltd. to complete the Phase I Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Study for Knoxville Avenue (Illinois 40) using IDOT’s Context Sensitive Solutions process, including a Community Advisory Group.
Why this study is important
The Knoxville Avenue Study Phase will explore alternatives for providing a dependable transportation facility that accommodates traffic growth, user safety, and accessible multimodal mobility now and into the future.
Knoxville Avenue carries approximately 24,000 vehicles a day and is an important arterial through Peoria. The surrounding area is highly developed, and the corridor provides a direct connection to the downtown business district. The intersection at U.S. 150 (War Memorial Drive) and Knoxville Avenue is also included in the Study. It is one of the busiest intersections in the Peoria area, and has historically been a high crash location. The current configuration of the intersection was constructed in 1953 under much different traffic conditions.
The pavement along the corridor has been in service since 1947. Many iterations of milling and resurfacing have occurred since then. The pavement structure has exceeded its service life; therefore, a reconstruction is being considered within the project limits. In addition, existing pedestrian accommodations do not meet current policy and will be addressed with this study.
The below map represents the project study area.
Phase I Project Schedule: Data collection and analysis, develop purpose and need, identify, develop and evaluate possible design concepts, evaluate the design concepts and determine the preferred alternative (we are here), finalize phase I design and report, phase II.
Q. Why are we doing this study?
A. The pavement along the corridor has been in service since 1947. Many iterations of milling and resurfacing have occurred since then. The pavement structure has exceeded its service life; therefore, a reconstruction is being considered within the project limits.
A reconstruction project allows us opportunity to consider more comprehensive changes to the project corridor within the existing or proposed (expanded) right of way. For example, consideration will be given to improving pedestrian accommodations and to adding bicycle accommodations; and for safety improvements at locations that have had a high crash history such as at the intersection of Knoxville Avenue and US 150 (War Memorial Drive); and for providing traffic operations for future growth.
Q. What are the project limits?
A. The final project limits will be determined as part of the Phase I study. The project study area extends along Knoxville Avenue (Illinois 40) from north of Pennsylvania Avenue to north of War Memoria Drive. The Phase I study is being conducted with two major components, which consist of the Knoxville Avenue corridor and the Knoxville Avenue/War Memorial Drive intersection.
Q. What are the stages of IDOT's construction projects.
A. IDOT’s construction projects are categorized into three phases:
- Phase I: Preliminary design, environmental considerations, and public involvement
- Phase II: Finalizing design details and assembling the construction bidding documents
- Phase III: Construction
Q. When will this project be built?
A. This project is currently in Phase I. The target completion date for Phase II Engineering including land acquisition is 2025. Construction will follow and is dependent on availability of funding.
Q. Is this project funded?
A. The Knoxville Avenue corridor is currently funded in IDOT’s Multi-Year Program. However, at this time the intersection reconstruction at Knoxville Avenue and War Memorial Drive is not funded.
Q. Where can I keep up to date on this project?
A. To sign up for quarterly updates, visit the Contact section. You can also continue to check this webpage periodically for project updates.
Q. What is the Community Advisory Group (CAG)?
A. The Community Advisory Group consists of community representatives from a broad cross-section of area interests, including property owners, business representatives, homeowner associations adjacent to the project area, interest groups and others. The CAG functions as a liaison between IDOT and the public. The CAG does not take the place of public involvement, but rather enhances the department’s efforts to tailor the improvement to the specific area. The project must still be vetted by the public. At a minimum, there will be at least one public meeting and one public hearing scheduled for this project, thereby providing opportunities for all members of the public to provide comments. With the help of the CAG, we expect that major community needs and concerns will be addressed as the project progresses and as alternatives are being developed and evaluated.
Q. Who are the CAG members; can I be a member of CAG?
A. The full list of current CAG members can be found in the CAG section.
We appreciate your interest and desire to be part of this important project. The makeup of the CAG was developed in conjunction with the City of Peoria with the goal of having community representatives from a broad cross-section of area interests, including property owners, business representatives, homeowner associations adjacent to the project area, interest groups and others. It is important to keep CAG membership balanced to ensure equal representation.
Q. Who is representing my neighbors and me?
A. Please reference the Community Advisory Group member list in the CAG section for the list of CAG members and the interest group(s) they represent.
Q. Where can I voice a concern, comment or ask a question?
A. For project questions or comments, please click the “Questions or Comments” button in the Contact section.
Also, feel free to contact your Community Advisory Group representative(s). CAG contact information is included in the CAG section.
In addition, there will be at least one public meeting and one public hearing scheduled for this project which will provide an opportunity for public comment. When scheduled, the meeting and hearing will be announced on this web page, as well as through other public information sources.
Q. Where can I find information on effects to my property?
A. As the project progresses and alternatives are developed and evaluated, property impacts will be studied.
Impacts to specific properties based on the preferred alternative will be presented at a Public Meeting. All impacted property owners will be notified by mail of the date and time of the Public Meeting. If you are not able to attend the meeting, alternate arrangements will be made.
Q. What is IDOT's land acquisition process?
A. When acquisition of private property is required to complete a transportation project designed to benefit the public, IDOT follows the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, and amended in 1987. This law, called the Uniform Act, was enacted by Congress in order to provide uniform and equitable treatment for persons whose property is acquired for public use and is consistent with the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution states that private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation.
Land acquisition typically comes in three forms:
- Right-of-Way (Fee Simple) – Acquisition of all rights and interests.
- Permanent Easement – Ownership retained by the property owner, IDOT allowed use of property for maintenance.
- Temporary Easement – Ownership retained by the property owner, IDOT allowed use of property during construction.
Q. Who has the final decision?
A. With the help of the Community Advisory Group and public feedback, we expect that major community needs and concerns will be addressed as the project progresses and alternatives are developed and evaluated. However, IDOT, in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration will have the final project decision.
Community Advisory Group
The Community Advisory Group is working in close coordination with the project team and a project study group to ensure that needs and concerns of the community are identified early in the project development process, and the proposed solutions balance safety, operational and community needs.
The makeup of the CAG was developed in conjunction with the city of Peoria with the goal of having community representatives from a broad cross-section of area interests. The CAG shares information about their communities or organizations and helps the project team more clearly understand the broader community. The CAG will also keep the broader community up to date on the progress of the study and are also expected to report back to the project team with feedback from the groups or organizations they represent. The CAG functions as a liaison between IDOT and the public. Please see the current CAG member list below and feel free to reach out to your representative.
Public Meetings
At least one public meeting and one public hearing will be held for the general public to provide comments on the project. Neither the public meeting nor the public hearing have been scheduled yet. Once scheduled, they will be announced on this website as well as other public information resources. As part of the Phase I study process, IDOT is using the Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) approach for early public involvement including the use of a Community Advisory Group (CAG). Preliminary meetings with the CAG have begun. The input received from the CAG does not take the place of public involvement, but rather enhances the department’s efforts to tailor the project to the specific area. If you have questions or want to provide early input before the public meeting and hearing, please contact your community advisor on the CAG.
This site will be updated periodically as the project progresses. The Illinois Department of Transportation looks forward to your input on the project.
Inquiries can be sent by mail to:
Kensil A. Garnett, P.E.
Region Three Engineer
Illinois Department of Transportation / Region 3 / District 4
401 Main Street, Peoria, IL 61602
Or by email to: DOT.D4.SandPEngineer@illinois.gov