Sept. 30, 2025

Intern to Hire: New initiative launched to attract young talent, bring onboard civil engineers at IDOT

A new initiative aims to attract and retain top civil engineering talent and show up-and-coming professionals that IDOT is the right place to spend their career.

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Employee Spotlight: Bureau Chief of State Affairs Kaitlyn Mitchum

Bureau Chief of State Affairs Kaitlyn Mitchum has been with the department since January 2024. On a daily basis she learns from experts on the IDOT team as she works with the General Assembly. 

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Cast your vote! Springfield underpasses competing ​for America’s top transportation project

Springfield’s Jefferson and Madison Street underpasses are in the running for the grand prize in the America’s Transportation Awards, the top honor for state departments of transportation. The project was recognized for improving safety, mobility and quality of life in the heart of the capital city.

The project is in competition for both the national Grand Prize and the People’s Choice Award. Each come with $10,000 in prize money for a charity or transportation-related scholarship fund chosen by the winning states. An independent panel of transportation industry experts will select the Grand Prize winner, while the general public will decide the People’s Choice Award through an online vote through Nov. 17.

A project managed by the city of Springfield with IDOT oversight and significant state investment, Jefferson and Madison streets were lowered to separate vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic from railroad tracks. The underpasses have decreased noise and delays, reduced emissions and improved reliability for first responders. ​

The recognition is the sixth time in the last eight contests that an Illinois project has been named a finalist, winning in 2018 for the Lake Shore Drive-Interstate 55 interchange in Chicago and again in 2019 for the joint effort with Missouri to improve mobility and access in the Metro East.

The winning projects will be announced Nov. 19 in Salt Lake City.

Region 1, District 1: A resurfacing project is underway on U.S. 20 (Grant Highway) is underway in from Prospect Street to Union Road in Marengo.

The project, which also includes constructing new ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps, is expected to be completed in early December. Access to residences and businesses within the work zone will be maintained throughout construction.

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Region 4, District 6: A nearly $15 million improvement project on Broadway Street (Illinois 104) from 12th to 38th streets in Quincy is set to start this fall. Work includes resurfacing, traffic signal upgrades and sidewalk/ADA improvements.

Traffic may be limited to one lane in each direction. Access to side streets will be limited during this project.​ A portion of the work items will be completed at night. ​The project is expected to take about a year to complete.

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Letting Update

Nov. 7 is the final letting for statewide construction projects that are scheduled in 2025. Here are some dates to note in advance of the letting. 

• Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. Transportation Bulletin release (Official advertisement of projects
• Oct. 17 at 4:30 p.m. Prequalification cutoff (Date that contractors must be qualified to bid on contracts.)
• Oct. 31 at 4:30 p.m. Joint venture cutoff (three contractor limit. Date for these groups who want to bid can do so).   
• Nov. 4 at 4:30 p.m. Request for authorization to bid cutoff (Final date for contractors who are authorized to bid on contracts). 
• Nov. 7 at noon Letting (Bids can be submitted until 11:59 a.m. on the day. Bids are shut down at noon).  

If you are new to the IDOT bid letting process or need updated information, following are some helpful resources:

• Transportation Bulletin
• EBids
• Letting Schedule
• Electronic Subscription Service
• Prequalification
• Authorization to Bid
• Bid Bonds