Reconstruction of Fayette Avenue in Next Couple of Years

Construction on the widening and reconstruction of Fayette Avenue through Effingham could begin within the next couple of years.

(GREG JAMERSON)

Greg Jamerson, Illinois Department of Transportation District 7 Program Redevelopment Engineer, spoke to a virtual Chamber First Friday Luncheon crowd. Jamerson said the full project will take two construction years to complete at a cost of approximately $27 million. The complete project cost is estimated to top $33 million. 

Work on the project, though, began in 2006 with tentative design, public meetings and ideas on the path the project would take through town. Jamerson said the Rebuild Illinois capital improvement program in 2019 really started the ball rolling, with the Fayette project highlighted when the program was announced.

Jamerson said land appraisals will wrap up in March with negotiations over land acquisition in the summer. Civil Design of Effingham is working on the construction plans.

Jamerson said the west side of the project is farther ahead so will be constructed first. That work will stretch from Illini Drive, east to Walnut Street on the west edge of the Fayette Avenue underpass. The east side of the project will stretch from Banker Street on the east edge of the underpass to Willow Street. 

The work will include intersection reconstruction at Henrietta Street, Maple Street and Willow Street.

Jamerson said the plan is to keep at least one lane of Fayette open in each direction throughout the duration of the project, and to maintain access to businesses along the street. Side streets will be closed at times during construction.