FAQ's

What is the history of this project study?

Answer: This current study segment was actually part of a larger study performed back in the 80’s. At that time, the study investigated the potential widening of a slightly longer segment of U.S. Business Route 20, from the Interstate 90 to High Line Street in Belvidere. That 1986 study and the limits shown by the 3 colored segments below made it through the entire Phase I process which included several public involvement meetings, a public hearing, environmental investigations, and an analysis of 4 different roadway alternatives with various median types and roadway alignment locations.

The final result was a Federal Highway Administration approved design report that recommended a 4-lane section with widening shifted more generally to the north of the existing roadway, a flush median, full shoulders, and no access control. However, due to such items as available funding, widening of the entire corridor was not progressed. The segment between the interstate and Shaw Road was prioritized given its significance near an interchange and what used to be the popular Clock Tower Resort. That section (highlighted in green) has since been widened to a 5-lane section with a flush median.

The remaining two segments (red/pink colors below) were tabled until additional funding was available and are covered in the current study limits.

Something the 1986 report did NOT address was future access points in conjunction with the current intersecting roadway systems. Therefore, in 1996, IDOT collaborated with the Rockford Metropolitan Planning Area to study the desired intent of the corridor and the number of intersections that would be allowed in order to preserve the integrity of a safe, high-capacity traffic flow through the corridor. Having an access control plan in place in advance of future development is crucial to eliminating random access points by future developers’ personal objectives, which can ultimately impact everyone’s safety and traffic flows.

Our current study has been re-evaluating the changes throughout the years since the 1986 study and updating improvements accordingly. There have been a wide range of changes throughout the years from: The closing of the Clock Tower Resort, the closing and then reopening of the Chrysler Plant, a pandemic which caused traffic shifts, and now a bit of a revival with new casinos and more industrial/commercial sites being constructed near I-90. We’ve received comments from several parcel owners along this corridor mentioning the desire for commercial development on their properties and the potential need for future access points. All of this input helped shape the proposed improvements for this area.

Areas in the vicinity of the project that currently utilize a raised median and serve a similar roadway function with controlled access as the desired U.S. Business Route 20 includes:

• U.S. Business Route 20 (East State Street) from Roxbury to Lyford which has been successful in increasing the capacity of the corridor while eliminating the turning crashes that occur when there are numerous commercial and private entrances along the corridor.
• Illinois 173 from Illinois 251 to I-90 also has the same design and speed limit proposed for U.S. Business Route 20 and has shown to be a successful design. 

In contrast, East State Street west of Alpine has a 5-lane section with a flush, bi-directional turn lane median. IDOT has received complaints from businesses and the City about this segment of roadway in regards to capacity and safety concerns due to the numerous entrances and lack of access control.

Why are you doing this study?

Answer:  Projections indicate a four-lane section is required to accommodate future traffic and alleviate congestion.  This section of roadway ties into a four-lane roadway section (two lanes in each direction) both to the east in Belvidere and to the west approaching Rockford. As development in the area continues, future traffic projections indicate that maintaining the existing two-lane road would not provide sufficient capacity and it is anticipated that traffic congestion would escalate. In addition, the existing pavement is generally in fair to poor condition and is expected to continue to deteriorate with continued increases in traffic loading.

What is the scope of work for this study?

Answer:  The preliminary engineering study is evaluating reconstructing and widening Business U.S. 20 to a four-lane cross section to accommodate traffic growth, to be consistent with the adjacent roadway segments, and to improve pavement condition.  Widening will include two travel lanes in each direction separated by a center median between Shaw Road and State Street/Appleton Road. Additional accommodation for non-motorized users such as pedestrians and bicycles, will also be investigated.

What is the timeline for this study?

Answer: The study is currently in the preliminary engineering phase. Data collection and initial studies are underway as part of the Phase I study process which is expected to conclude in 2024. Phase II, the design and land acquisition phase of the study, is anticipated to start by winter of 2024. Phase III is the actual construction of the improvement and timing is pending funding and design approval.

How is this study being funded?

Answer:  Phase I of the Business U.S. 20 from Shaw Road through the State Street/Appleton Road Intersection in Belvidere Study is currently funded in IDOT’s 2021-2026 Rebuild Illinois Highway Improvement Program. Subsequent phases, II and III will begin once funding is allocated.

Why is a raised median proposed for a portion of the project instead of a flush, two-way left turn lane (TWLTL) median as currently exists on both ends of the project?

Answer: When selecting a median type, recognition must be given to urban/rural/suburban location, access needs, design speeds, availability of right-of-way, safety, capacity, intersection spacing, traffic signals, economics, environmental impacts, public acceptance, and functional classification. Note that higher functional classifications will warrant a greater effort in managing access to a street or highway and in retaining mobility. On certain projects, more than one median type may be necessary and/or desirable.

When selecting median types within urban fringe areas, urban outlying business districts, and throughout the entire suburban area, special efforts will be necessary to coordinate the proposed median design with existing and planned zoning regulations. Currently, the area from Van Epps Drive to Appleton Road/State Street is zoned as either Single Family, Planned Business, or General Business. In this area an existing TWLTL exists and due to the many existing driveway entrances and closely spaced intersections, maintaining the TWLTL appears to be the most reasonable option. For a TWLTL, design speeds should not exceed 45 mph.

For the area between Shaw Road and Van Epps Drive, land is generally zoned as agricultural with occasional general or local business zones near intersection development. Given the larger land parcels, greater spacing of intersections and driveways, Boone County’s anticipated growth in the area, and the expected reallocation of land to more commercial uses, controlled access is required for this segment, which a TWLTL does not provide. The raised median allows for U-turn movements and the storage of passenger vehicles in the median crossover at unsignalized intersections and driveway locations.

U.S. Business Route 20 & Raised Median Design Presentation

IDOT presented the raised median design along U.S. Business Route 20 at the first public information meeting in January 2022 as the preferred design from IDOT's standpoint. This design included a solid raised median from just east of Shaw Road to Town Hall Road, curb and gutter along the entire section, and a separated multiuse path on the south side. 

Some residents raised concern that people will not be able to have full access to their residences and fields.  IDOT listened to these concerns, and, as a compromise, added abbreviated left turn lanes to the medians to facilitate the movement of existing residents and farmers. The revised design was presented at the public meeting in May of 2023.  This design provides the requested access for existing stakeholders via deceleration/turn lanes while still providing a raised median for safety and future commercial development access control. The project team has modeled farm equipment to ensure turning lane widths are accommodated in the design for residents that have indicated their need.

The original proposed design for U.S. Business Route 20 shows a separated multi-use path running along the upgraded corridor. Why does the newest proposed design omit the multi-use path?

Answer: In accordance with Illinois Complete Streets legislation, IDOT complies with the Illinois Complete Street Law (Illinois Highway Code; Sec. 4-220) that states: “Bicycle and Pedestrian ways shall be given full consideration in the planning and development of transportation facilities”. In the case of U.S. Business Route 20, IDOT originally proposed to construct a separated, multi-use path (MUP) along the approximately four-mile stretch at no cost to the local municipality. However, IDOT must have a local agency maintain the separated MUP in order to move forward with construction. During Phase I coordination, IDOT was unable to find a local agency or park facility that is willing to commit to MUP maintenance. Therefore, a separated MUP was replaced with an 8’ paved shoulder adjacent to the travel lanes, which is an acceptable Complete Streets accommodation for this segment as indicated in IDOT’s Bureau of Design and Environment (BDE) Manual. Utilizing roadside shoulders in the rural/suburban section and on-road bike lanes in the Belvidere urban section, allows IDOT to maintain the bike accommodations in conjunction with the regular maintenance of the adjacent roadway pavement. This is not IDOT’s preferred alternative, but without local maintenance support, it is the next feasible option to meet policy.

The current posted speed limit for U.S. Business Route 20 is 55 mph. Why has IDOT proposed to reduce the speed limit to 45 mph?

Answer: In the first public information meeting, IDOT outlined the traffic analysis and safety concerns for U.S. Business Route 20. This data was based on crash summary between 2014-2018. While there were zero crash fatalities, 227 crashes were reported during this 5-year timeframe. Twenty-two percent (22%) of the crashes are classified as containing some range of injuries. Based on these statistics, IDOT believes that decreasing the speed limit for the route would ideally reduce the number of crashes and minimize these injuries making it the better option for the community, its drivers, and visitors. As the project progresses and information becomes available, crashes continue to be monitored to determine any changes in crash patterns.

As a community grows and develops, the State monitors the posted speed limits. Rather than waiting for people or businesses to develop and move in, taking the approach to “cross that bridge when we get there”, lowering the speed limits now is a proactive measure to the anticipated growth. The lower speed can make it safer for construction personnel around the area while they develop new communities. Once people move into the newly developed land, drivers will already be familiar with the slower speeds near the new residential neighborhoods and commercial properties.

How is noise being considered for this study?

Answer: As part of the Phase I planning process, a noise analysis will be performed along the study area corridor to evaluate the potential need for noise walls as part of the recommended improvements. Existing noise measurements will be taken along the corridor and a computer model will be prepared to estimate noise levels at sensitive receptors (including residential properties) with the future traffic and roadway configuration. In any areas where the future noise levels are predicted to be at or higher than federal noise abatement criteria, noise abatement measures, such as noise walls, will be considered. If the results of the study indicate noise mitigation may be a benefit to properties, these owners will have the opportunity to provide input before it is decided if they will be included as part of this project.

Is any land acquisition necessary for the study purposes and, if so, will my property be impacted?

Answer: Some right of way is anticipated in order to accommodate the roadway widening. At this time, the proposed roadway design is still in process and right-of-way needs have not been fully determined. The acquisitions are expected to be primarily partial acquisitions consisting of strip right-of-way and temporary easement along both sides of U.S. Business 20. Upon completion and approval of the design, the Department’s Bureau of Land Acquisition will be contacting property owners to discuss the land acquisition process and specific property impacts in more detail.

When will land acquisition begin?

Answer: The acquisitions are expected to be primarily partial acquisitions consisting of strip right-of-way and temporary easements along both sides of U.S. Business Route 20. Upon completion and approval of the Phase I design report, the Department’s Bureau of Land Acquisition will be contacting property owners to discuss the land acquisition process and property impacts specific to their parcel in more detail in the Phase II design stage. We anticipate this to be more in the later part of 2024/early 2025. 

There are three types of land acquisition:

1. Fee Simple (proposed Right-Of-Way)
   • Acquisition of all rights and interest
2. Permanent Easement
   • Ownership retained by property owner
   • IDOT allowed permanent use of property to construct and maintain facilities
3. Temporary Easement
   • Ownership retained by property owner
   • Temporary access required during construction, generally for earthwork grading or driveway construction, which allows workers and materials to be placed within the designated area.

Once the Phase I design report is approved, the acquisition team at IDOT will proceed with contacting property owners.