The Illinois Department of Transportation’s replacement of the Route 31 bridge over Route 20 next has the city of Elgin seizing the opportunity to do its own improvements at the intersection.

IDOT’s plan calls for the reconstruction of the interchange ramps in all directions, including the installation of new traffic signals, paths for pedestrians and bicyclists, and ADA ramps, city officials said.

At a cost of about $21 million, the improvements are meant to increase roadway capacity, improve safety and reduce traffic snarls.

Elgin’s been working with IDOT on the project since 2015. Phase I studies began in 2017 and determined the roadway didn’t have enough capacity and the bridge has structure deficiencies, limited drainage capacity and a history of crashes, city documents said.

Because IDOT needs a portion of city-owned property for a permanent right-of-way near the former Elgin Mental Health property, state officials agreed to incorporate the city’s improvements into the project in exchange for the city donating the property, valued at $26,000.

The city’s portion of the project includes water main relocation, sanitary and storm sewer additions, emergency vehicle preemption traffic signalization emergency responses and expansion of its fiber optic network south of Route 20, documents show.

Work will be done at the same time IDOT is doing the bridge replacement and will be overseen by its contractors, City Manager Rick Kozal said.

Elgin’s improvements are to cost $2.4 million. If the city didn’t have the construction done at the same time as the bridge project, the cost would be significantly higher and would result in the public having to put up with another construction project, more traffic delays, and detours, Kozal said.

The Elgin City Council agreed, and unanimously approved the intergovernmental agreement at Wednesday’s meeting.

IDOT’S project will be done over two years, said Mike Pubentz, public works director. “I would estimate the majority of the work will begin next spring. There could be some preliminary work done out there this fall,” he said.

IDOT is spending nearly $100 million over the next few years to replace the bridge on Route 20 over the Fox River and reconstruct the intersection at Route 20 and Shales Parkway. Both projects are listed in the agency’s 2023-28 budget, but no date has been set for bidding or construction.

Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.