Study Area & Process:

Study Area
The U.S. 52/IL 64 project involves a study to replace the existing U.S. 52 two-lane bridge over the Mississippi River between Savanna, Illinois and Sabula, Iowa, and the reconstruction of IL 84 at the north end of Savanna, Illinois, from Randolph Street on the south to approximately 1,000’ north of the bridge structure. The U.S. 52 bridge over the Mississippi River was originally constructed in 1932, and is rapidly approaching the end of its useful life.

Phase I Study Process
The Phase I project process involves several distinct, but interrelated sequential steps.

Step I. Analyze Existing and Future Conditions
The first step is to analyze and understand the existing and future conditions of the corridor. This task includes collecting information on current and projected future conditions, such as traffic volumes, crash history and design standards. This information allows IDOT to identify deficiencies and begin the process for developing solutions.

Step II. Purpose and Need
The data collected in Step I contributes to the preparation of the project Purpose and Need, guiding the identification and evaluation of alternatives.

Step III. Detailed Environmental and Technical Studies
The next step involves the preparation of detailed environmental and technical studies. Reports detailing cultural and natural resources, water quality, and the identification of wetlands and sensitive environmental areas within the study area are included in this step.

Step IV. Environmental Assessment (EA) with Preferred Alternative
The final step of the process culminates in the Environmental Assessment report, which includes the selection of the preferred design alternative.