Agencies
Services
Get Involved
Please go to www.270mrb.com for the most current information
Billie Owen, P.E.
Studies and Plans Project Engineer
Illinois Department of Transportation
Region 5/District 8
1102 Eastport Plaza Drive
Collinsville, IL 62234
Phone: 618-346-3209
billie.owen@illinois.gov
Get Involved
The project is using an intense public involvement program referred to as Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS). Please read this page as it provides an overview of the public involvement activities to date. For more detail, please view the Project Report and Technical Report I Public Involvement Record clicking on the following link:
Newsletters & Mailing List Sign Up
During Phase I of the project, IDOT issued three newsletters. Please click on the issues below to learn more about the Phase I portion of the project:Newsletter
During Phase II the following newsletters have been issued:
If you would like to receive the Chain of Rocks Bridge newsletter, please join the mailing list by clicking here.
IDOT held its second Public Meeting for the I-270 bridge replacement project on January 17, 2018, in Granite \City, Illinois. The meeting was in an open format setting and visitors were welcome to come and go as they please. Below is a link to the Exhibits that were presented at the meetings.
Public Meeting Displays including Preferred Alternative
IDOT held its first pair of Public Meetings for the I-270 bridge replacement project on June 30, 2016 and July 13, 2016, in Illinois and Missouri, respectively. The same information was presented at both meetings. Both meetings were in an open format setting and visitors were welcome to come and go as they please. Below is a link to the Exhibits that were presented at the meetings.
CONTEXT SENSITIVE SOLUTIONS
An important part of the I-270 over the Mississippi River Study is public participation. IDOT utilizes Context Sensitive Solutions (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
- Set a project schedule
- 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
COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP (CAG)
One highlight of our public involvement program is the Community Advisory Group (CAG).
The purpose of the CAG is to provide input on various elements of the study, including developing a problem statement, identifying issues important to the public, and providing feedback on alternatives.
The CAG functions as a liaison between IDOT and the public as a whole, and helps generate interest in and knowledge about the study. This helps ensure opinions, values, and concerns of the public are shared with the project team, and that information developed by the team is distributed to the broader public.
It is important that the CAG be representative of all the varied interests and viewpoints that exist within the study area. The CAG is comprised of volunteers who represent a wide variety of local interests, such as elected leaders, cities/villages, economic development, environment, industry, residents, businesses, tourism, commuters, and others with a stake in the study’s outcome.
The first CAG meeting for the project was held on October 18, 2016. The purpose of the first CAG meeting was to introduce the project, explain the IDOT planning and CSS process, and listen to the CAG members concerns and interests.
A second CAG meeting was held on December 13, 2017. The purpose of the second CAG meeting was to discuss what has happened since the last CAG meeting and to present the potential preferred alternative. The CAG members viewed the potential preferred alternative and thought the alternative addressed the issues expressed in the project problem statement. Please click here to read more about the CAG Meetings.
Get Involved
The Stakeholder Involvement Plan (SIP) serves as a guide for implementing stakeholder involvement activities during the I-270 over the Mississippi River Phase I Study.
The goal of the SIP is to outline a program of activities to actively engage stakeholders throughout the planning 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
Please click here to view the Stakeholder Involvement Plan.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the project limits?
The portion of I-270 that this project includes is from just west of the Chain of Rocks Canal Bridge in Madison, Illinois to just west of Riverview Drive in St. Louis, Missouri.
Why is IDOT replacing the bridge?
The bridge is nearing the end of its design life and is in need of extensive repair. The existing bridge was constructed in 1966. Over the life of the bridge, numerous repairs have been made. In addition to repairs, this bridge has seen a significant increase in traffic from a projected average daily traffic (ADT) of 19,800 vehicles per day in 1975, to over 51,000 vehicles per day today.
What did the Phase I Study accomplish?
In Phase I, the proposed geometry, environmental impacts, and right-of-way requirements were identified. The Study concluded with a preferable replacement option of the bridge which was approved by the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA). This allowed for the project to move forward to the design phase, or Phase II.
Will the new bridge be six lanes?
The new bridge is proposed to accommodate six 12-foot lanes and include larger shoulders but will be striped for four lanes initially to match the existing I-270 to the east and west of the bridge. Currently, I-270 is four lanes in Illinois and Missouri adjacent to the bridge.
Is this part of MoDOT’s I-270 Project?
The MoDOT project to widen I-270 from the I-70 interchange to the Mississippi River is currently being constructed. Please visit the MoDOT project website for information on this project: http://www.i270north.org/
This IDOT bridge replacement project is not part of the MoDOT study. However, the proposed bridge will be designed to be compatible with the MoDOT project.
How long the Phase II Design take?
The Phase II Design started in 2019 and it is anticipated to take approximately two years to complete.
When will construction begin?
Construction could begin in 2022.
Will the bridge be closed during construction?
The Department strives to manage traffic during construction to minimize inconvenience to the motoring public. Extensive public outreach via the media and social media platforms during construction will be utilized to keep motorists up to date on changes to traffic patterns.
