Illinois 13 project breaks ground at Crab Orchard Lake

CARTERVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation was joined by local and state officials today at the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge to mark the start of a major infrastructure improvement to expand and modernize Illinois 13 across Crab Orchard Lake, a vital east-west link for communities in Southern Illinois. Made possible by Gov. JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program, the $41 million project will add an important link for bicyclists and pedestrians seeking to connect to the Crab Orchard Greenway.

With these improvements, Illinois 13 will become a true multimodal corridor in Southern Illinois,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi. “Under Gov. Pritzker, IDOT is doing more than ever to help local officials reach their goals for how safety and mobility look in their communities and neighborhoods. This project is another step in that direction.” 

The Illinois 13 improvements consist of widening the road to three lanes in each direction, replacing aging bridges on the lake causeway, upgrading the Cambria Road intersection and adding a bike and pedestrian path. The improvements will span approximately 2 miles, extending from Spillway Road to Shawnee Trail, with additional resurfacing along Illinois 13 to Division Street in Carterville.

The corridor serves several important community institutions and destinations, including John A. Logan College, as well as major recreational sites, such as the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge.

A key part of adding the trail is completing the segment of the Crab Orchard Greenway that crosses the lake, connecting Spillway Road to Greenbriar Road. The Greenway is a popular 20-mile regional trail that runs through Marion, Herrin, Carterville, Crainville and Carbondale. The new path on Illinois 13 will provide a continuous, safe route across the lake for pedestrians and bicyclists.

By providing expanded travel options across multiple modes of transportation, the completed project will support local mobility and create economic opportunity along Illinois 13 and the region’s trails.

“I am grateful for this investment in Illinois 13 and Southern Illinois,” said Carterville Mayor Bradley M. Robinson. “This last piece of the expansion project strengthens economic growth and development all along the Illinois 13 corridor, from Murphysboro to Harrisburg and all points in between.”

Construction started this week, with Illinois 13 reduced to one lane in each direction between Spillway Road and Greenbriar Road. Traffic will be separated by concrete barriers to accommodate work on the westbound lanes and bridges, a configuration that will last until late 2026, with the overall project anticipated to wrap up in 2028.

Illinois 13 is part of a nearly $534 million investment in road and bridge improvements in the region made possible by Rebuild Illinois this construction season. Other projects include the $157 million Interstate 57 expansion in Franklin and Jefferson counties; the $94 million reconstruction and bridge improvements on I-64 in Jefferson County; the $38.6 million interchange reconstruction at I-57/64 and Illinois 15 in Mount Vernon; and the $16.4 million Illinois 37 reconstruction and other improvements south of Marion to Illinois 148.

Over the next six years, IDOT is planning to improve more than 3,200 miles of highway and nearly 9 million square feet of bridge deck as part of Rebuild Illinois, which is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation. Accomplishments through Year Six of Rebuild Illinois include almost $20.8 billion of improvements statewide on 7,897 miles of highway, 815 bridges and 1,181 additional safety improvements.

Visit idot.click/Rebuild-Illinois for highlights of other Rebuild Illinois projects happening throughout the state.

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