HOT TOPICS

Windsor Road Improvements

Estimated Completion: 
Nov 2010

Windsor Road is planned for upgrade from Boulder Drive to High Cross Road (IL. Rte. 130).

The proposed improvements consist of reconstructing Windsor Road
from two to four and five lanes with raised median, hot-mix asphalt
widening and resurfacing, concrete curbs and gutters, storm sewers,
roadway lighting, pavement markings and other miscellaneous
improvements. A new traffic signal will be installed at the Myra Ridge
Drive and Windsor Road intersection. The project also includes the
reconstruction of the multi-use path from Myra Ridge Drive to Stone
Creek Boulevard on the north side of the road. A new multi-use path
will be constructed on the north side of the road from Boulder Drive to
Myra Ridge Drive and from Stone Creek Boulevard to High Cross Road;
thereby, providing a continuous multi-use path along the entire north
side of the project. Additionally, a new sidewalk will be installed on
the south side of the road from Myra Ridge Drive to Susan Stone Drive
adjacent to the existing residential lots.

The purpose of the project is to control access and provide increased
capacity to safely accommodate existing and planned development in
accordance with the Champaign-Urbana Urbanized Area Transportation
Study (CUUATS) Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). An improved
transportation system is necessary to support current and future
economic growth and development in southeast Urbana. Several new
businesses such as Meijer, Monical’s Pizza, Busey Bank, Subway, Milo’s
Restaurant and two health clinics, Carle Clinic and Christie Clinic,
have recently opened adjacent to Windsor Road. Providing a four-lane
roadway will not only provide increased capacity but also offer
continuity with the existing Windsor Road system west of Philo Road.
This improvement will complete the upgrade of Windsor Road from US Rte.
45 to High Cross Road (IL. Rte. 130) to a four lane roadway.

Development

The Phase I Study for the project
was performed by Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC of
Champaign. A Project Development Report (PDR) was approved by IDOT on
February 9, 2007. The PDR addressed existing and proposed conditions
along the Windsor Road corridor including traffic, roadway geometry,
drainage, accidents, environmental concerns, and public involvement.

Phase II Design was performed by staff within the Engineering
Division of the City of Urbana Public Works Department. Soil
investigation and analysis for the project was performed by Engineering
& Research Int’l, Inc. (ERI) of Savoy. The Phase II portion of the
project consisted of the final design of the roadway geometry,
pavement, storm sewer systems, traffic signals, roadway lighting and
retaining walls as well as the preparation of plans, specifications and
estimates.

Phase III Construction will be administered by representatives
from the Engineering Division of the City of Urbana Public Works
Department and the Champaign County Highway Department.

Partners

City of Urbana, Champaign County, State of Illinois.

Current Status

Utility Relocation: Relocation of the large power pole line on
the north side of the road is finished. Relocation of the telephone
lines on the east end of the project between Stone Creek Boulevard and
High Cross Road is finished. Relocation of telephone lines on the south
side of Windsor Road between Susan Stone Drive and Stone Creek
Boulevard is expected to occur in September.

Roadway Work: Stage I work is underway and is expected
to occur thru the middle of next summer. Feutz Contractors Inc. of
Paris, a subcontractor to Open Road Paving Co., is installing the storm
sewer east of the Calvary Baptist Church. Installation of the large
retaining wall near Stone Creek Boulevard is expected to start in
September.

Staging Sequence

Pre-Stage I: Two-way traffic will run on the existing
pavement during this stage. Work during this stage to include:
installation of traffic control devices, storm sewer system
installation from the west end of project up to Susan Stone Drive,
across road storm sewer installation, Hot-Mix Asphalt (HMA) surface
removal of the existing pavement, resurfacing of the existing pavement,
and restriping of the traffic lanes. Completed 8-26-09

Stage I: Two-way traffic will run on the restriped lanes
during this stage while the north half of roadway is under
construction. Specifically, the north side remaining storm sewer,
pavement widening, retaining walls, curb and gutter, sidewalks,
entrances, grading and landscaping will be constructed during this
stage. Started 8-27-09

Stage II: Two-way traffic will run on the newly
constructed north half of the pavement during this stage while the
south half of the roadway is under construction. Specifically, the
south side remaining storm sewer, pavement widening, retaining walls,
curb & gutter, sidewalks, entrances, grading and landscaping will
be constructed during this stage. Resurfacing of the south half of the
widened roadway will also occur during this stage.

Stage III: Two-way traffic will run on the north and
south halves of the roadway as necessary. The final wearing surface
will be installed on the north half of the pavement and the final
grading and landscaping will occur during this stage.

Bid Results

Bids were opened by the Illinois
Department of Transportation (IDOT) on April 24, 2009. Open Road Paving
Company, Inc. of Urbana was low bidder in the amount of $6,181,677.82.

Funding

Approximately 80% of the funding for the project
is coming from Federal-Aid Surface Transportation Program-Urban (STP-U)
funds and Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)
funds. The balance of the funding for the project is from City of
Urbana Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds, City of Urbana Capital Replacement
and Improvement (CR&I) Funds and Champaign County Motor Fuel Tax
(MFT) funds.

Impacts to Traffic

Two-way traffic will be maintained
while roadwork is performed; however, the contractor may direct traffic
down to one lane, with the aid of flaggers during daylight hours. Side
street traffic will be maintained on N. Myra Ridge Dr. and Stone Creek
Blvd. at all times. S. Myra Ridge Dr. and Susan Stone Dr. will be
closed at alternate times.

Motorists are advised to always obey construction signage and work zone speed limits.

Access to all businesses and churches along the project corridor will be maintained at all times.

Estimated Completion

November 2010 with some weather dependant items finished in spring 2011.

Project Updates

If you would like to receive periodic project updates please send an email to Mr. Craig Shonkwiler at ceshonkwiler@city.urbana.il.us