May 20, 2024 – Tonight’s Decatur City Council meeting included the approval of numerous local road reconstruction projects and preparation for sanitary and storm sewer improvements.
$6.3 million in local road projects
On Monday night the Decatur City Council approved the 2024 local roadwork plan, investing $6.3 million to repair 16.06 lane miles of local roads. The funding is a combination of state motor fuel taxes (MFT), local motor fuel taxes, and state Rebuild Illinois funds.
$3.8 million in MFT will improve these roads:
- Mound Rd. – from IL 121 to Taylor Ave
- Taylor Ave. – from IL 121 to Mound Rd.
- Macon St. – from Dipper Ln. to Westdale Ave.
- Wood St. – from Fairview Ave to Monroe St.
- Monroe St. – from Sawyer St. to Pershing Rd.
- Orchard St. – from Illinois St. to Jasper St.
- Illinois St. – from Marietta St. to Orchard St.
- Marietta St. – from Illinois St. to Jasper St.
- Rotary Way – from IL Rt. 51 to City limit
- Bayshore Dr. – from South Shores Dr. to Shoreline Dr.
- And mill & overlay in South Shores on: Point Bluff Dr., Shoreline Dr., Shoreline Pl., Timber Dr., Timber Pl., Hackberry Dr., Hackberry Pl., Woodhill Dr., Woodhill Ct., Baywood Dr.
Additionally, $2.5 million in MFT and Rebuild IL funds will go to complete reconstruction of 1.12 lane miles of 27th Street from Hubbard Ave. to IL Rt. 48.
Along with the 2024 projects, a 5-year proposed roadwork plan was also approved. The City typically inspects half of the City’s streets each year and uses the results of those inspections to refine a 5-year plan of proposed pavement projects. The approved plan can be found in the Council packet.
Planning for sewer improvement projects
Council also made preparations for improvements to the City’s storm & sanitary sewer infrastructure, approving a contract with Entler Excavating for approximately $600,000. The 2024 Sanitary & Storm Sewer Improvement Project readies the Public Works Department to resolve sanitary and storm sewer issues as they are identified by inspections, routine maintenance, and public observation. This project enables the City to respond quickly to issues such as a collapsed pipe or sink hole before they turn into major public problems.
Public Works estimates that approximately 70% of the project will be sanitary sewer work and 30% storm sewer work. Funding comes from the Sanitary Sewer Fund and the Stormwater Fund.
Other business
In other business, another infrastructure improvement was approved for downtown. Council okayed sidewalk and streetscape improvements on Prairie Ave. adjacent to Heritage Behavioral Health. The City has been unable to address issues due to a large vault under Heritage that extends underneath the sidewalk. Heritage has agreed to fill the vault area and then the City will reimburse them for the streetscape & lighting improvements that will follow.
