Overview

The project is in Winnebago County in Northern Illinois, south and east of Rockford and in Cherry Valley. I-39 is a north/south interstate, beginning north of Bloomington and continuing north around the east side of Rockford and into Wisconsin. The roadway carries regional and local traffic through Winnebago County. U.S. 20 is an east/west four-lane expressway through most of Winnebago County but becomes a freeway beginning west of Rockford and ending at the I-39/Harrison Avenue interchange. It is a joint interstate section with I-39 beginning at the system interchange. The Harrison Avenue interchange is one of three primary local access interchange with I-39 on the east side of Rockford.

IDOT has coordinated with the Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning (RMAP), as well as the Village of Cherry Valley, Winnebago County, and the Rockford-Winnebago County Better Roads Association in early stages of project development and will continue to do so throughout design completion and construction.

I-39/U.S. 20 was constructed in the early 1960’s, with the I-39/U.S. 20 interchange (System interchange) constructed in 1980 and the I-39/U.S. 20/Harrison Avenue interchange in 1963. The existing pavement varies throughout the project corridor, with some overlays and repairs taking place on numerous sections throughout the years.

Phase I included capacity analyses, crash studies, condition assessments, and future traffic projections for the study area. Results of these studies determined the need for redesign and reconstruction of the corridor and associated interchanges, including connecting roadways, structures, and noise walls.

The purpose of the proposed improvements to I-39 is to:

• Improve conditions at the interchanges.
• Reduce congestion on the roadways.
• Improve safety and provide continuity with adjacent roadways.

From the completed Phase I study, three specific sections of the corridor were recommended for reconstruction. They include:

• I-39/U.S. 20 Mainline
• I-39/U.S. 20 Interchange (System Interchange)
• I-39/U.S. 20/Harrison Avenue Interchange

Along with those major typical sections of redesign and reconstruction, the scope of the project also includes the following related reconstruction projects:

• Reconstruction of the I-39/U.S. 20 interchange (System Interchange).
• Reconstruction and capacity expansion of the I-39 northbound and southbound ramps from one lane to two lanes at U.S. 20.
• Reconstruction and widening to three lanes plus an auxiliary lane on I-39 from U.S. 20 to Harrison Avenue, including wider shoulders.
• Addition of concrete median barrier on I-39.
• Reconstruction of 15 bridge structures including the Kishwaukee River bridges on U.S. 20.
• Reconstruction of 44 culverts.
• Reconstruction and additional lanes on U.S. 20/Harrison Avenue with three lanes in each direction along Harrison Avenue from west of South Mall Drive to east of Mill Road.
• Conversion of the I-39/U.S. 20/Harrison Avenue interchange from a full cloverleaf to a Diverging Diamond interchange, including the removal of the existing cloverleaf ramps.
• Reconstruction of Mulford Road, Linden Road, Perryville Road, Mall Drive, and reconstruction and geometric revisions of Mill Road.
• Traffic signalization at Harrison Avenue and South Mall Drive, Harrison Avenue and Mill Road, and the two DDI intersections at the ramp terminals in the Harrison Avenue/U.S. 20 Interchange.
• Reconstruction and relocation of the Cherry Valley Path under I-39 at Madigan Creek.
• Reconstruction of the existing noise wall southwest of Mulford and U.S. 20.
• Potential construction of new noise wall along segments of I-39 (To Be Discussed at Public Meeting on Jan. 18, 2023)
• Addition of a shared use path along the north side of Harrison Avenue.
• Improved roadway lighting.
• New landscaping.
• New signing.
• Drainage improvements.

IDOT projects typically have three distinct phases.

Phase I (Project Study)

• Scope - Consists of developing the project scope, environmental studies, and preliminary design of a project.
• Status – Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Study completed January 14, 2019.

Phase II (Design)

• Scope - Consists of refining the design to develop contract plans and land acquisition.
• Status. - The project is in the early stages of Phase II Engineering Design and Planning.

Phase III (Construction)

• Scope - Consists of the construction of the project.
• Status. - Updates will be provided as they become available.

The Phase I Design and Planning Study of the I-39 corridor was completed in 2019. The study included historic analyses of the roadways, capacity studies, crash studies, safety analysis, existing conditions assessment, alignment analysis, land use, and an evaluation of environmental resources and concerns on the possible effects of reconstruction on the surrounding environment. The study concluded that reconstruction of the corridor was necessary due to safety and capacity issues, as well as current and future projected conditions.

The reconstruction of I-39 will:

• Improve capacity, safety, and operations on I-39 using 3 thru lanes in each direction, with northbound and southbound auxiliary lanes.
• Improve capacity, safety, and operations on the I-39 ramps at the U.S. 20 Interchange by widening from one lane to two lanes.
• Improve capacity, safety, and operations at the I-39 Harrison Avenue Interchange by eliminating the low-speed loop ramps and converting to a Diverging Diamond Interchange.

IDOT and the design consultant are currently preparing plans, specifications, and estimates for construction. Since Phase I was completed, revisions to the final design due to further analysis include the following (which will be covered in more detail at the 2022 I-39 Public Meeting):

1. Perryville Road Realignment
   Phase I design called for the new bridge to be built adjacent to the existing bridge using a curved roadway. Phase II redesign now has the new bridge to be reconstructed at the same location as the existing bridge using straight roadway. Mulford Road will be used as a detour during construction.

1. Mulford Road Alignment
   Phase I design called for the new bridge to be built next to the existing bridge using curved roadway. Phase II redesign now has the new bridge to be reconstructed at the same location as the existing bridge using straight roadway. Perryville Road will be used as a detour during construction.

1. I-39 Alignment Shift
   Phase I design reduced distance from traffic to the east right-of-way with added lanes. The Phase II redesign has been revised to hold the east edge of the pavement for the alignment.

1. New Noise Walls
   During Phase II, the consultant team conducted a noise reevaluation to reflect the updated Noise Policy. The proposed re-evaluation has identified the potential inclusion of two new noise walls, segments along I-39 (To be discussed at a public meeting on January 18, 2023).

1. Kishwaukee River Bridge
   During Phase II, replacement of the U.S. 20 bridges over Kishwaukee River was determined necessary.

1. Cherry Valley Path
   Phase II design warrants the temporary rerouting of the Cherry Valley Path during construction.