US 30

This project is a comprehensive study of the traffic, safety, and environment to develop alternatives for the improvement of existing US 30.

U.S. Route 30 is a major east-west connector in northern Illinois and serves as a primary link between Iowa and northeastern Illinois. U.S. Route 30 was America’s first coast-to-coast highway and is also known as Lincoln Highway. The need to improve existing U.S. Route 30 was identified decades ago. In 1967, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) singled out the need for improvements to U.S. Route 30 in their Illinois Highway Needs and Fiscal report. In 2002, IDOT initiated an engineering study to evaluate the feasibility of an improved transportation system from east of Fulton to west of Rock Falls. After an extensive process of analyzing preliminary traffic reports, engineering data and public comments, IDOT determined that such enhancements are necessary to meet the growth and travel demands projected within the northwestern area of Illinois.

Since the completion of the U.S. Route 30 Corridor Study in 2006, the project has continued to receive support from the public, special interest groups, Federal, State and local leaders, regional chambers of commerce and economic development agencies. This continued support has resulted in Federal funds being dedicated and programmed to begin the next step – the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Phase I Design Report.

The proposed project is located in Whiteside County from IL 136 and Frog Pond Road, east of Fulton, to IL 40 in the city of Rock Falls. The project study area is approximately 24 miles long and 10 miles wide. The U.S. Route 30 project study area passes through six (6) townships, Fulton, Ustick, Union Grove, Mount Pleasant, Hopkins, and Coloma, and the communities of Fulton, Morrison, Rock Falls, and Sterling. The city of Fulton resides just west of the project’s western terminus of IL 136 and Frog Pond Road. Traveling east, the existing U.S. Route 30 bisects the city of Morrison, which resides in the center of the project study area. Continuing east, the proposed project limits extend to IL 40 in the city of Rock Falls and provides the eastern terminus for the project. The project study area consists of large areas of agricultural land interspersed with scattered rural farmsteads.

Contact person: Rebecca.Marruffo@illinois.gov