HEI was selected by the Illinois Department of Transportation - District 7 to complete a Phase I study of the US Route 50 Corridor from 2.5 miles west of IL Route 130 in Olney to 3.5 miles east of IL Route 1 in Lawrenceville for a total distance of 27 miles. Reconstruction and expansion of the existing two-lane facility to a four-lane expressway to improve regional connectivity, enhance accessibility to communities within the project area, and improve travel efficiency.

Work items included the preparation of an environmental assessment, combined design report, preliminary alignment studies, accident analysis, drainage study, intersection design studies, interchange design studies, public involvement, and related work. Alignment studies for this add-lane study proved to be challenging because four-lane US Route 50 will be constructed within existing right-of-way that was purchased in the 1960’s for the I-64 that was eventually constructed approximately 30 miles to the south.