East Main Street Reconstruction Moving Forward

For 10 years, a need has been identified to reconstruct and widen East Main Street/IL Route 64 on the east side of St. Charles. The area has experienced a high number of accidents due to a variety of factors including traffic volume, roadway design, the number of driveway access points and driver error.

I am very pleased that the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has announced plans to complete the reconstruction of East Main Street by January, 2013. The first phase of construction will take place in 2011 and will consist of tree removal and utility relocation. Those who drive the area may have noticed the utility work taking place near Charlestowne Mall and the tree removal in front of Pheasant Run Resort.

The second phase of construction will take place in 2012 and consist of the actual reconstruction and widening of the roadway. That work will include the construction of a dedicated left-turning lane from 7th Avenue near the St. Charles library to Dunham Road. This improvement will make the road safer for motorists.

During the construction, motorists and area businesses will be impacted. Normal traffic patterns will be disrupted, lane closures will be required, travel times will be extended, and patience will be needed. The City and IDOT will be strongly encouraging motorists to use alternative routes, including the Stearns Road and IL Route 38 corridors.

To provide information regarding the project, the City of St. Charles is hosting an Open House on Monday, June 27th from 5:30-7 p.m. at St. Charles City Hall. City staff will be on hand to discuss the project and talk with persons interested in learning more about the project. All available reconstruction and traffic management plans will be available for public viewing during the Open House. We encourage everyone to come and view these documents. 

For more information on the Open House and the planned roadway and utility reconstruction work, contact Jim Bernahl at the St. Charles Public Works Department. He can be reached at 630-377-4405 or jbernahl@stcharlesil.gov

In addition, the City will provide weekly project updates at this website.

Finally, I want to communicate that the City has received word that the State of Illinois budget impasse that has threatened to shut-down transportation projects will NOT impact the East Main Street work. IDOT has informed the City that the project will proceed as planned.