West State Street (Business Route 20)

During the West State Street Corridor Study in 2000, the City of Rockford, in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), initiated the development plan and vision for improving West State Street from the Rock River to Meridian Road. West State Street is the western gateway to the City of Rockford and a vital transportation corridor. It was important for the city to develop an attractive and inviting gateway for any traveler visiting Rockford and appealing to the businesses and neighbors. The Reconstruction of West State Street (Business Route 20) project started in late 2013 when RS&H was selected to provide engineering services to reconstruct the corridor between Day Avenue and Independence Avenue in Rockford, Illinois.

The project originated from the City of Rockford’s vision to develop an attractive and inviting gateway for surrounding businesses, neighborhoods, and travelers in Rockford. RS&H’s first inspection of the area revealed deteriorated conditions and poor housing conditions. It was at that moment that the designers realized that this project was much more than just reconstructing the roadway.

Improvements of West State Street consisted of a new four-lane roadway with two lanes in each direction separated by a 22-foot-wide raised landscaped median and urban curbed section with an enclosed drainage system. The design also included a 5-foot concrete sidewalk, which was constructed on the north side of the road, and a 10-foot multi-use path that meanders through a landscaped area on the south side of West State Street. The project also included interconnected signalized intersection.

RS&H is proud to have been a part of such an improvement in the local community. Our goals always go beyond bulding functional roadways and meeting the technical aspects. Our approach to every project applies decades of well-honed expertise with insight that yields innovation with a purpose—to achieve outcomes that lead to a future where everyone is connected to what they need to thrive.

The project improved the quality of life in the neighborhood and enhanced the area socially, economically, and financially. The project was a success for urban renewal. IDOT produced a video describing the program for residents and businesses that were displaced to get a similar home or business in the same area at low or no cost.

“RS&H, Inc. and team managed to navigate a complicated project that involved extensive utility relocations, which required the firm to design between these conflicts. The consultant’s team stayed in close contact with the department throughout this project to ensure the many challenges were being monitored.” – Masood Ahmad, PE, Region Two Engineer, IDOT