The West State Street Corridor Plan

Table of Contents

Corridor Study (very large file)

The West State Street Corridor Project is comprised of several projects occuring simultaneously:  West State Street- Construction,  West State Street - Linear Park, and West State Street - Land Acquisition.

West State Street - Construction

• The West State Street Corridor project grew out of a recognized need for significant infrastructure upgrades within the corridor.  The City, corridor stakeholders, and IDOT began to work together in 2001 to assemble a West State Street Corridor Framework Plan.
• The Plan, which serves as the template for the project being designed today, was issued in September 2002.
• The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), as the lead agency, began the project design in 2004. Phase I design is complete.  IDOT is underway with Phase II design with a scheduled completion date of late 2010.
• The project involves the reconstruction of West State Street from Kent Creek to Pierpont Avenue into a five lane cross section that includes a landscaped barrier median. The improvement will generally follow the existing alignment.  The project includes construction of curb and gutter, new driving surface, sidewalks, multi-use path, and landscaping.  The project will also include improvements at intersections.  Traffic signals will also be upgraded along with the current roadway lighting.
• The primary purpose of the West State Street Corridor Project is to provide an improved transportation facility along U.S. BR 20 (West State Street) from Kent Creek to Pierpont Avenue.

Click here for current construction schedule

Aerial View of West State Street

West State Street - Linear Parks

West State Street Looking West

As outlined in the 2001 "West State Street Corridor Plan," the City will develop linear parks on the north and south side of West State Street from the Kent Creek to Independence Avenue.  This will coincide with the State's road reconstruction project.

As part of the road project, the City is removing the vast majority of structures on the north and south side of West State Street within this section.  This open space gives the City the opportunity to create new public spaces to improve the quality of life along the corridor.

The new public spaces will include linear parks, a multi-use path, drainage, lighting, and planted mediums.

A landscape master plan is required for the corridor project, which will be implemented in a multi-phase effort. The first phase of the project will coincide with IDOT's construction on West State Street between Kent Creek and Independence Avenue.

The design consultant selected for the project, Terry Guen Design Associates (TGDA) is both an MBE and WBE.  TGDA also provided design services for Millennium Park in Chicago, as well as other significant projects with the Chicago Park District.

The project is being developed in conjunction with the Rockford Park District and the Complete Streets Task Force.

The project will be funded by Sales Tax funds.

West State Street - Land Acquisition

The primary purpose of the West State Street Corridor Project is to provide an improved transportation facility along U.S. BR 20 (West State Street) from Kent Creek to Independence Avenue.

The project would include the reconstruction of West State Street to provide two lanes in each direction with a landscaped barrier median for the limits of the improvement.  The improvement will generally follow the existing alignment.  The project includes construction of curb and gutter, sidewalk, multi-use path, and landscaping.  The project will also include improvements at intersections.  Traffic signals will also be upgraded along with the current roadway lighting.

On June 22, 2009, the City Council awarded the contract for the creation of the West State Street Relocation Plan to O.R. Colan Associates.

Under the Federal Highway Administration guidelines, the process must conform to the Uniform Relocation Act (URA).

O.R. Colan Associates has completed the West State Street Relocation Plan.

The next step is to implement the plan for Phase I (Kent Creek - Independence Avenue) properties.

Implementation includes completing an appraisal analysis and negotiating with property owners / tenants for replacement properties and relocation benefits.