Chicago Construction News staff writer
The Illinois Department of Transportation will invest $10 million to rebuild and modernize Sheridan Road in Peoria, part of a larger $400 million package supporting 223 local infrastructure projects across the region. The investment is part of the state’s six-year, $50.6 billion transportation program.
The Sheridan Road project will reconstruct the stretch between Glen Avenue and Northmoor Road, providing improved access to Carle Health Proctor Hospital and Peoria Notre Dame High School. The two-lane corridor, originally designed as a rural highway, will be rebuilt with a center turn lane to ease congestion and reduce rear-end collisions. Sidewalks and a multi-use path will also be added to improve access and safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.
“The Sheridan Road project is a great example of how smart infrastructure investments improve safety, reduce congestion, and strengthen access to key community destinations like Proctor Hospital and Peoria Notre Dame High School,” said Tony O’Brien, Business Manager, Operating Engineers Local 649. “This $10 million project will not only modernize a vital corridor in the heart of Peoria, but also support good-paying union jobs for the men and women who build and maintain our state’s infrastructure.”
IDOT’s district covering Peoria and west central Illinois will also receive $2.4 billion for state roads and bridges, including:
- $87.2 million to rebuild Illinois 29 and add a center turn lane from Gardner Lane to north of Lorentz Avenue in Peoria
- $59.5 million to replace Peoria’s Adams Street bridge over the BNSF and Union Pacific railroads
- $25 million to resurface Illinois 98 from Parkway Drive in North Pekin to Flint Street in Morton
The statewide transportation program also includes $32.5 billion for roads and bridges in Fiscal Year 2026-31, with $5.5 billion allocated for the current fiscal year. Another $18.1 billion is programmed for other modes, including $13.8 billion for transit, $2.9 billion for freight and passenger rail, $1.2 billion for aviation, and $200 million for ports and waterways.
This year’s program also made $400 million available through a special legislative appropriation to help address local transportation needs, with priority for disadvantaged or economically distressed communities. Of the 223 local awards, 177 are for roads, 34 for bike and pedestrian improvements, 10 for transit, and two for ports.
