Virtual public meeting on improvements to U.S. 20 in Stephenson County Dec. 3

STEPHENSON COUNTY – The Illinois Department of Transportation will host a virtual public meeting for proposed improvements to U.S. 20 between Lena and Freeport in Stephenson County at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3. The public can register for the meeting at https://bit.ly/us20stephensoncounty.

The meeting is part of the ongoing Phase I Engineering and Environmental Study to evaluate and recommend solutions to improve safety conditions and infrastructure to 4.7 miles of the U.S. 20 corridor between Rees Road and Flansburg Road.

The study will consist of an assessment of transportation needs for the corridor, including patching, resurfacing, and replacing the undersized and deteriorating crossroad culverts at various locations. Countermeasures to reduce crashes may also include centerline and shoulder rumble strips, additional advanced warning signs, and evaluation of short passing zones. It is anticipated that this project will help reduce the number and severity of off-road crashes and will help improve driving conditions along this section of U.S. 20.

The proposed project also would involve the use of land from Wayside Park, located at Salem Road. Improvements include shoulder widening, intersection modification, entrance regrading and drainage improvements. This does not affect the park’s activities, features or attributes. Several historic resources may be affected by the proposed project and the historic resources protection process, pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.

At the public meeting, the project team will present a project overview, discuss improvements and receive public feedback. The meeting will conclude with a question-and-answer session with IDOT representatives and the project team.

Meeting materials and a recording of the public meeting will be posted to the project website at Stephenson County: U.S. 20 Rees to Flansburg Road. Comments and questions are encouraged and can be submitted through the website.

Comments may also be mailed to:

Illinois Department of Transportation, District 2

Attn: Studies and Plans
​819 Depot Ave.
​Dixon, IL 61021

Over the next six years, IDOT is planning to improve 7,107 lane miles of highway and 8.4 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 to 21,309 lane miles of highway, 815 bridges and 1,181 additional safety improvements.

For IDOT District 2 updates, follow us on X at @IDOTDistrict2 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.