East Side Highway Environmental Assessment (McLean Co., Illinois)
CLIENT: McLean County
Clark Dietz provided engineering and environmental assessment services for the proposed East Side Highway east of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area. The study evaluated a new highway connection between I-74 to the south and I-55 to the north, identifying a preferred route and assessing its potential effects on communities and the environment.
Proposed structure locations along the East Side Highway corridor, including roadway, railroad, and interstate crossings.
The team developed and compared alternatives based on transportation needs, projected travel demand, safety, and social and environmental considerations. Engineering evaluations included drainage, utilities, construction staging, aesthetics, and connections with rail and other modes of transportation. Structure studies and the design of 10 grade separations addressed locations where transportation routes would cross at different elevations.
Project deliverables included an Environmental Assessment and Combined Location Report, two Access Justification Reports evaluating proposed interstate access, and a Design Report identifying the preferred alternative. A Corridor Protection Map documented the preferred route to support future planning and corridor preservation.
Agency coordination and public involvement followed the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Context Sensitive Solutions process, bringing community and agency input into the evaluation of alternatives. The work also complied with the National Environmental Policy Act and applicable federal transportation requirements under SAFETEA-LU.
Clark Dietz’s services included project management, quality assurance and quality control, engineering and environmental analysis, and cost estimating. Together, these efforts established a planning and environmental framework for evaluating the proposed highway and its preferred alignment.
