A section of West Nebraska Avenue in Peoria will be closed to all traffic beginning Monday, August 12, when a multimillion-dollar project to improve the road begins.
The three-phase project will rehabilitate the section of Nebraska Avenue from the Interstate 74 bridge to North Sterling Avenue for motorists and pedestrians and improve stormwater drainage.
The Nebraska Avenue reconstruction project includes replacing existing pavements and constructing new curbs, gutters and sidewalks.
Related: IDOT identified 4 major state road construction projects for the Peoria region
Phase 1 of the project, from the I-74 bridge to North Park Road, is scheduled to be completed by mid-December. During Phase 1, the road will be closed to all traffic. There are no homes or businesses on this section of Nebraska Avenue.
Phases 2 and 3, from North Park Road to North Sterling Avenue, are scheduled to begin and end in 2025. During this time, temporary access will be coordinated with home and business owners.
The entire project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Additional work days will be available in 2026 for landscaping and cleanup.
Currently, the 0.6-mile stretch of road from the I-74 overpass to Sterling Avenue is bumpy and in need of repair. There are two lanes in each direction, but no dedicated turning lane. The sidewalks are narrow, uneven, and overgrown in places.
Planned improvements include an eastbound and westbound through lane, a dedicated turning lane and a wider sidewalk, said Jon Koch, senior engineer at Maurer Stutz Inc., which is overseeing construction for the city of Peoria.
Nick McMillion, communications specialist for the Peoria Public Works Department, confirmed those plans and said the total project will cost $4.5 million. Funding will come primarily from local and state fuel taxes, he said.
More: Roadwork begins at the major intersection in Peoria. What you need to know
