Concrete Commitment: How Champaign’s Street Improvements Are Built to Last

Clark Dietz has been a long-standing engineering partner in the City of Champaign’s Concrete Street Improvements (CSI) Project—a long-term maintenance initiative aimed at replacing aging concrete streets. This work includes the removal and reconstruction using modern design methods to create stronger, more resilient pavement across the city.

But concrete replacement isn’t just technical; it’s transformational. “It increases property values. It provides not just for vehicular traffic, but pedestrian traffic and improvements,” said Project Manager Adam Groves, PE. “From wheelchairs to bicyclists, everyone has safer and more improved forms of transportation across town.”

Adam has worked on the CSI Project since 2009 and helped lead the Clark Dietz team through three consecutive multi-year cycles. Our most recent reappointment covers 2026 through 2028, reflecting the city’s ongoing trust in our team and consistent delivery of results.

Why Concrete Replacement Matters

Old concrete streets, many built decades ago, were often constructed as monolithic slabs—single, thick pieces of concrete laid without effective drainage or layered support. Over time, these slabs crack and deteriorate due to water infiltration, heavy traffic, and shifting soils, leading to flooding and unsafe conditions.

“A lot of the old streets were all monolithic, and they were very poorly drained, so whenever we would get intense rains, it’d flood the whole street,” Adam said. “Now we’ve raised the centerline, and it really focuses the water into the drainage pan.”

Crews don’t just swap out old pavement for new; they rebuild the street with smarter materials and a better layout. After removing the old concrete, workers lay down a fabric layer underneath. This helps support the street from below and means they don’t have to dig as deep.

“We place concrete and aggregate, but then we put a fabric down underneath it because it keeps our project shallower, using a geo textile grid,” Adam said. “It’s just different design practices we’ve learned over the years to really focus the design.”

On top of the fabric, they add gravel to create a strong base, then pour new concrete. The whole structure holds up better through seasons of rain, snow, and freeze-thaw cycles.

Residents benefit from fewer potholes, better drainage, and smoother driving surfaces. By rebuilding it right the first time, the city avoids costly future repairs while giving neighborhoods an upgrade that supports walking, biking, and driving for years to come.

“But that’s the benefit of this program: they aim to come in once, have one season of disruption, and fully replace everything—bringing it all up to current design codes, improving grids and slopes, and upgrading the entire neighborhood,” Adam said.

Making a Difference for Residents

Whether it’s a smoother driveway entrance, better crosswalk connections, or reduced street flooding, the CSI Project improves quality of life.

“We don’t replace all the driveways; we try to design the streets to improve driveway bumps,” Adam said. “We raise the street so that we target a one-and-a-half-inch bump instead of three or four inches. That makes a big difference to people pulling in and out of their homes every day.”

The project also plays a big role in accessibility, bringing sidewalks and corners up to ADA standards. “So many areas had crosswalks on one corner that didn’t connect,” Adam said. “Now, we’re adding ramps on opposite sides, so they have connection points and access.”

It’s not just about vehicles; it’s about people. And that’s the kind of commitment Champaign continues to show year after year.

Funding, Flexibility, and Coordination

The CSI Project is made possible through a combination of local motor fuel tax, state motor fuel tax, and general funds, with budgets ranging from $1.2 million to $2.2 million, depending on the year.

Streets are selected for replacement based on condition rankings, with the worst streets prioritized first. This ensures that resources go where they’re needed most, targeting roads with significant cracking, drainage issues, or safety concerns.

Keeping construction costs low while maintaining quality is a constant challenge. “We never run out of projects,” Adam said. “It’s a challenge to stretch every dollar while still maintaining quality.”

Each project also has to work around existing infrastructure like water mains, gas lines, and telecom utilities. When possible, the team uses this opportunity to improve things like lighting and accessibility to make the neighborhood more functional and safer for everyone.

A Community-Focused Legacy

CSI work happens citywide, targeting one area at a time during each summer construction season. In 2024, work included replacement at a fire station parking lot, reinforcing the project’s broad reach and community value.

“The community response has been very positive,” Adam said. “My only Christmas card I ever got was from a homeowner who was so ecstatic. It’s not always glamorous, but it’s meaningful. It makes for a cleaner-looking community and improves everything.”

And that’s the goal: to leave behind infrastructure that feels better, functions better, and supports the people who live around it.

Shared Commitment, Shared Success

“It’s not just what we’re doing—it’s what the city is doing,” Groves emphasized. “Their commitment, their funding, and their focus on long-term quality is what keeps the residents safe, dry, and connected.”

Through projects like CSI, the City of Champaign is investing in lasting improvements that reflect its values—safety, accessibility, and resilience. And Clark Dietz is proud to help deliver that vision, one intersection at a time.

To learn more, visit Concrete Street Improvements Project.

The City of Champaign provides new releases about these projects. Visit their news releases about the 2024 and 2022 CSI projects.

More ways Champaign is shaping their community through sustainable infrastructure: