Knoxville Avenue Reconstruction Project

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.

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. 

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

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.

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. 

To sign up for quarterly updates, visit the Contact section.  You can also continue to check this website periodically for project updates.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.