IL Route 161 over Crooked Creek

Where is this project?
Crooked Creek is 3.3 miles east of the Village of Hoffman and 1 mile west of the City of Centralia.  This project extends from west of Shattuc Road to east of Noltings Road, and is slightly less than 1.5 miles long.

What is the purpose of this project?
The purpose of this project is to replace aging and deficient bridge and culverts that carry IL Route 161 over Crooked Creek and its tributaries, provide additional flood protection for IL Route 161, and to improve intersections on IL Route 161 within the project limits.

What work will be done, or what is the scope of this project?
This project involves:

• Replacing the bridge and culverts that carry IL Route 161 over Crooked Creek and its tributaries
• Raising the IL Route 161 roadway and increasing the sizes of the bridge and culverts to increase flood protection
• Improve the intersection of IL Route 161 and Shattuc Road
• Improve the intersection of IL Route 161 and Noltings Road
• Improve the shoulders along IL Route 161

Why are the structures on IL Route 161 being replaced?
The structures within the project limits were originally built 80 years ago.  The condition of these structures has deteriorated to a point where replacement is required.

Why are the proposed roadway and structures being raised with this project?

• History – This section of IL Route 161 has a history of flooding to a point where water runs over the roadway (overtopping).  This flooding has led to at least one reported fatality.  The Department has also received requests by local citizen groups requesting that additional flood protection be investigated for this section of IL Route 161.
• Existing Flood Protection - A Hydraulic analysis was performed on the existing structure on IL Route 161 over Crooked Creek, and it was found that the existing level of flood protection for overtopping does not meet IDOT drainage criteria.  The IDOT drainage criteria assures that the roadway will not overtop for a 100-year storm event (an event that is likely to occur once in every 100 years, or 1% chance of occurring in any year).
• Proposed Flood Protection – Providing a larger bridge and culverts that carry IL Route 161 over Crooked Creek and its tributaries, and raising the roadway on IL Route 161 will provide flood protection that meets IDOT drainage criteria.  The IDOT drainage criteria assures that the roadway will not overtop for a 100-year storm event (an event that is likely to occur once in every 100 years, or 1% chance of occurring in any year).  In development of the proposed structure, numerous options were considered to provide different levels of protection. Ultimately it was decided that the best value was to design for the policy IDOT drainage criteria.

Will additional Right-Of-Way (ROW) be needed with this project?
Proposed ROW and temporary easements will be required for this project.  Affected property owners have been contacted by the Department.

How will construction of this project be completed?

• Due to the scope and length of the project, one-lane stage construction is not feasible.  To utilize stage construction for this project, two lanes of traffic would need to be maintained throughout the duration of construction.
• Due to the additional ROW and environmental impacts, additional time of construction (versus a detour), cost, and safety reasons, stage construction will not be utilized for this project. 
• IL Route 161 will be closed during the construction of this project and a detour will be utilized for traffic management. 
• • A detour will be signed for the duration of construction (US 51 to US 50 to IL Route 127).  See attached map for the proposed detour. 
• It is preliminarily estimated that the total duration of construction for this project will be 18 months.  This estimated duration may be revised once the design of contract plans is complete.
• • IDOT is currently at the beginning stages of designing contract plans and developing the plans for construction and traffic management.
  • Although IL Route 161 will need to be closed the full duration of construction for the structure work, IDOT is currently investigating ways to limit the closure duration for Shattuc Road and Noltings Road.     

What is the current stage of project development?
Proposed highway improvements are typically processed in three district 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.  This phase generally takes a minimum of 12-24 months to complete.  Phase III represents the actual construction of the improvement.  This project is currently in Phase III.

What is the funding status for this project?

Project Location Map
(click on map to enlarge)

Detour Route Map
(click on map to enlarge)

If you have questions or comments about this project, please contact Matthew Meyer at (618) 346-3160 or by e-mail at matthew.meyer@illinois.gov.  Or, you can mail:

Illinois Department of Transportation
Attn: Mr. Matthew Meyer
1102 Eastport Plaza Drive
Collinsville, IL 62234