The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has begun a new study of an eastern bypass in the tri-county area. This study will begin with determining a corridor location for a highway intended to join Illinois Route 6 with Interstate 74, north and east of Peoria.


IDOT is currently in the Corridor Phase of the Study. 

Corridor Phase - Before determining where a highway should be built, it is necessary to select the general area where it should be located. This general area is called a corridor. A corridor is many times wider than a highway. This phase will help decide the location of the corridor. It will answer questions like, “Should it be north or south of Spring Bay?” and/or “Would it be best to be     east or west of Washington?”

All interested parties are strongly encouraged to join the Community Advisory Group (CAG) and participate in the planning process.  One can sign up for the CAG by filling out the form on IDOT's Eastern Bypass website. 

The Community Advisory Group
An important part of the Eastern Bypass Study and CSS is extensive  participation of the public in the study process. One highlight of our public involvement plan is the creation of a Community Advisory Group (CAG). The main purpose of the CAG will be to function as a pipeline or liaison between IDOT and the broader community. This ensures that the mood and opinions of the broader public are shared with the IDOT project team, and that information developed by the project team is distributed throughout the broader public.             

The CAG will consist of volunteers who represent a wide variety of community interests … groups such as homeowners’ associations, local chambers of commerce, agricultural interests, environmental groups, and others with a stake in the outcome of the study.