October 2016 Update:
A Public Hearing was held on October 19th, 2016 at the Central Catholic High School at 1201 Airport Road in Bloomington, Illinois. The meeting was held from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The purpose of the meeting was to finalize the Environmental Assessment process and present a monitoring plan to determine if and when the project moves to construction.
A presentation was made at 6:10 PM followed by a forum where the public was given the opportunity to speak in front of attendees. Individual comments were limited to three minutes per person. Their comments were recorded, and any questions will be addressed after the comment period ends on November 2, 2016 . The remainder of the meeting was open-house format with opportunity to review exhibits. Project team staff were available for discussion and questions.
To view the presentation and materials presented at the Public Hearing click here.
The final East Side Highway Environmental Assessment document may be downloaded here. It is also available for viewing at the McLean County Highway Department building at 102 S. Towanda Barnes Road, Bloomington, IL.
September 2016 Update:
A Public Hearing will be held on October 19th, 2016 at the Central Catholic High School at 1201 Airport Road in Bloomington, Illinois. The meeting will be held from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The purpose of the meeting is to finalize the Environmental Assessment process and present a monitoring plan to determine if and when the project moves to construction. We will seek input from those in attendance. For more information on the Public Hearing click here.
The final East Side Highway Environmental Assessment document may be downloaded here. It is also available for viewing at the McLean County Highway Department building at 102 S. Towanda Barnes Road, Bloomington, IL.
January 2016 Update:
The project team is currently working on the EA report. The EA documents the possible impacts that the ESH project may have on the natural environment, the community, socio-economics, and agricultural activities, and proposes measures to mitigate adverse effects. The EA will tentatively be available for public review later this year in 2016. The results of the EA will then be presented at a Public Hearing which is open to all stakeholders.
As part of the ESH EA, the project team is currently working with FHWA, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), and local historic groups and property owners to identify impacts to historic and cultural resources. Measures to mitigate impacts to these cultural and historic resources will be included in the ESH EA.
May 2014 Update
Geotechnical work is currently being performed in the field. As the study continues, sub-surface soil information is needed for preliminary structure design. This is not final bridge design; that will be done only if this project is ever built. Geotechnical information is needed to accurately determine the structure type and size so we have a more refined estimate of construction cost.
November 2013 Update
A summary of the public comments received after the June 19, 2013 Public Information Meeting and the recommended Preferred Alternative were presented to the Federal and State resource agencies on November 14, 2013. At the meeting, the project team asked the agencies to grant concurrence on the Preferred Alternative. Concurrence means that the agencies agree that information is adequate, the analysis is defendable, and that the project can be advanced to the next stage of development. The agencies agree not to revisit the previous steps unless conditions change. Concurrence was received from all of the agencies. To view the Preferred Alternative, click here.
October 2013 Update
The NEPA/404 Merger Meeting was rescheduled for November 14, 2013. The project team will present the results of the Environmental Assessment Analysis and the recommended Preferred Alternative at the meeting. The presentation will include a discussion of the public comments received after PIM#5. The project team will seek concurrence on the recommended Preferred Alternative from each agency representative.
The project team presented the ESH project at the September 30, 2013 Joint Council Meeting. The Joint Council is composed of the Bloomington and Normal city councils and the McLean County Board. The purpose of the presentation was to provide an update on the project status and to present the recommended Preferred Alternative corridor. To view materials presented at the meeting click here.
August 2013 Update
The project team is preparing to present the results of the Environmental Assessment Analysis and the recommended Preferred Alternative to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the State and Federal resource agencies at the September 5, 2013 NEPA/404 Merger Meeting. At the meeting, each agency representative must give concurrence on the recommended Preferred Alternative in order for the project to move forward. The presentation will include a discussion of the public comments received after PIM#5.
June 2013 Update
A public Information Meeting (PIM) was held on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Normal Community High School. The purpose of the meeting was to review the alternative evaluation process, present the remaining alternatives after the Environmental Assessment and seek public input on a Preferred Alternative. To find out more about the meeting click here.
March 2013 Update
The project team is continuing to refine the interchange geometry and the bicycle/pedestrian trails that are proposed in conjunction with the ESH. The alternatives are being evaluated in the Environmental Assessment Analysis. Environmental data from field surveys conducted by state agencies is required in order to complete the EA Analysis, some of which has not yet been received. The results of the EA Analysis will be presented at a Public Information Meeting, tentatively to be held in summer of 2013.
December 2012 Update
The remaining alternatives are currently being evaluated in the Environmental Assessment (EA) Analysis. The No Build Alternative is included in the EA. The EA Analysis includes detailed measurements of the impacts resulting from each alternative. The EA considers impacts to agriculture, community, environment, noise and historical features. Sustainable features will be incorporated into the design of the ESH where feasible. The preliminary results of the EA Analysis will be presented at PIM#5 which will tentatively be held late first quarter/early second quarter of 2013.
April 2012 Update
Since the March 2, 2012 NEPA/404 Merger Meeting (read more about the meeting in the March 2012 Update below) the project team has been refining the remaining alternatives based on engineering and traffic considerations, and minimizing impacts to resources such as homes and farmland. The refined alternatives will be studied in detail in the Environmental Assessment (EA) Analysis.
Several meetings with the Focus Working Groups (FWGs) have been held. Read more about the FWG meetings here.
March 2012 Update
The project team presented the alternative evaluation process and remaining alignments to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the State and Federal resource agencies at the March 2, 2012 NEPA/404 Merger Meeting. The public comments received within the comment period after the fourth Public Information Meeting (PIM#4) were given to the FHWA. A summary of comments was included in the presentation. Click here to view the presentation from the meeting.
The FHWA and resource agencies granted concurrence on the remaining alignments. This means that the agencies agree with the findings of the alternative evaluation process to date and the project team can begin to study the remaining alignments in detail in the Environmental Assessment Analysis.
January 2012 Update:
The fourth step in the alternatives evaluation process, the Alignment Analysis, has been completed. The results of the Alignment Analysis were presented at Public Information Meeting #4 on January 11, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Normal Community High School. Click here to read more about the meeting.
The remaining alignments will be presented to the resource agencies for concurrence at the March 2012 NEPA/404 Merger Meeting. At that time a summary of public comments will be presented.
November 2011 Update:
Since the August 18, Public Information Meeting, the project team has been evaluating the remaining alternatives under consideration in the Alignment Analysis. The Alignment Analysis is the fourth step in the alternative evaluation process.
August 2011 Update:
A Public Information Meeting (PIM) was held on Thursday, August 18, 2011, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Normal Community High School. The purpose of the meeting was to present the alternative development and evaluation process to date. To find out more about the meeting click here.
March 2011 Update:
On February 15, 2011, the project team presented the Purpose & Need Statement (P&N) to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and various Federal and State resource agencies at a NEPA/404 Merger meeting and received concurrence. Concurrence signifies that the next stage of the project, alternative evaluation, can proceed.
The project team is currently working with the Community Working Group (CWG) to define a range of alternatives. The alternatives will be evaluated based on many criteria, including ability to satisfy the P&N, engineering feasibility, and impacts to cultural and environmental resources. The range of alternatives will continue to be refined over the next year and will be presented at a Public Information Meeting tentatively scheduled for early next year. In the meantime, check the CWG page to read about the alternative development progress.
February 2011 Update:
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and various Federal and State resource agencies must give concurrence on project findings at milestone stages in the process at NEPA/404 merger meetings. The project team will present the Purpose & Need (P&N) to the agencies at the February 15, 2011, NEPA/404 merger meeting. The presentation will include a discussion of the public comments received after PIM#2. The project team will ask for concurrence on the P&N at this meeting. If concurrence is granted, that means the agencies agree with the P&N and the progress can proceed to the next step, the evaluation of alternatives.
January 2011 Update:
A Public Information Meeting was held on January 13, 2011, at Normal Community High School. The objective of the meeting was to seek public input on the Purpose and Need Statement. Read more about the meeting here.
The second Community Working Group (CWG) meeting was held on December 7, 2010. The Purpose & Need development was discussed, and the CWG members began to brainstorm corridor locations on aerial photographs.
The third Community Working Group (CWG) meeting was held on January 25, 2011. Engineering concepts and environmental regulations were discussed. The CWG members continued to develop corridor locations.
November 2010 Update:
The first Community Working Group (CWG) meeting was held on October 28, 2010. The EA process was introduced.
The Origin Destination (O-D) Study is underway. The first step in the O-D Study was to collect information on current traffic patterns. In order to collect this information, project team personnel distributed survey cards at various intersections in McLean County during the end of October and beginning of November. Approximately 24,000 postage paid survey cards were distributed. Information collected will be incorporated into the Traffic Demand Model to help predict future traffic volumes on roadways within the project study area.
July 2010
The East Side Highway EA began in July, 2010. The first steps in the process are to develop a Stakeholder Involvement Plan (SIP), which will outline the resource agency and public involvement process, and to refine the preliminary Purpose and Need, which discusses the necessity of the transportation improvement.
Another early coordination item is Scoping. Scoping is a formal coordination process required by NEPA regulations which determines the scope of issues to be addressed and identifies the potential issues related to the proposed East Side Highway project. Agency and public scoping are being conducted concurrently.
Public scoping occurred at a Public Information Meeting held on August 25, 2010 at the Normal Community High School Auditorium, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The purpose of the meeting was to review project history to date, explain the goals of the environmental assessment study, and to identify community representatives to serve on an advisory group as part of the Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) process.
Did you know ...