PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING

SCHEDULED BY THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CONCERNING CONSTRUCTION OF THE
CURTIS ROAD INTERCHANGE SOUTHWEST OF CHAMPAIGN

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will be holding an Open House Public Information Meeting in Champaign on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 to discuss construction of the Curtis Road Interchange southwest of Champaign . The Public Information Meeting will be held at the First Christian Church in Champaign , located at the corner of Staley Road and Curtis Road west of Interstate 57. Those interested in this project are invited to attend the meeting at any time from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and should use the church's south entrance nearest Staley Road . Persons with a disability requiring special accommodations should contact the District Engineer as listed below by January 22, 2004 to advise of planned attendance and needed accommodations. The contact may be by telephone, in writing, by fax or by telephone deafness device (TDD). The meeting room is accessible to persons with a disability.

In response to requests by the Champaign-Urbana Urbanized Area Transportation Study (CUUATS), the Department of Transportation has been conducting a study and acting as the lead Agency to pursue, develop and construct a diamond type interchange. The overall interchange improvement begins at the intersection of Curtis Road with Staley Road and extends easterly to the intersection of Curtis Road with Duncan Road . The improvement intends to enhance access to the Champaign-Urbana Urbanized area and relieve congestion at the FAI-72 interchange as well as the city street system. The proposed improvement will provide four through traffic lanes with paved shoulders, raised median and dedicated turn lanes for interstate access. Accommodations for a future multi-use path with a dedicated bicycle/shared use structure at FAI-57 to separate bicyclist/pedestrians from motor vehicle traffic and hazards at the interstate interchange are included in the project. An Environmental Assessment, a document that details potential environmental impacts, will be available for public inspection at this meeting and for 15 days prior at the District 5 Office, Paris , Illinois , and the FHWA Division Office, 3250 Executive Park Drive , Springfield , Illinois , 62703 . Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS), architectural and landscaping enhancements, intended to create a Gateway to the Champaign-Urbana community and right-of-way acquisition information will also be available. Representatives from the Department of Transportation, City of Champaign , Champaign County , Village of Savoy and consulting firms Clark Dietz, Inc. and Hitchcock Design Group will be present to provide information, receive input, answer questions and take written or oral statements regarding the project.

For more information, contact D. Clark, District Engineer, 13473 IL HWY 133, P.O. Box 610 , Paris , Illinois 61944 , telephone 217/465-4181, fax 217/465-5732, TDD 217/463-2279.