About Us

Background | Four Lane Highways | Building a Four Lane Highway
Costs | Timetable | The Role of the 336 Member/Supporter

Background

The 336 Coalition is a group of concerned citizens, business people, and government officials focused on the construction of a four-lane highway running from Peoria to Macomb.

Recent efforts were revived in late 1998 and evolved out of a community mapping effort that identified the lack of adequate four lane surface transportation as the most critical need to bring growth to the west Central Illinois area. Initial efforts date back to the mid to late 1960's, over 40 years ago, when this segment of highway was proposed as part of the Chicago to Kansas City Highway.

A four lane highway running through west central Illinois was a need then, it is an even greater need today. The lack of a modern four-lane highway is viewed as the greatest cause of stagnant to declining populations and economies in many of the area's communities and for the highest unemployment rates in the State of Illinois. The Coalition has discovered strong support in the Peoria, Macomb, and Quincy for the benefits Highway 336 could bring to those areas of Illinois. The Greater Peoria Airport would also be a benefactor of our efforts.

The 336 Coalition has grown to include members from most, if not all, of the communities between Peoria and Macomb. There are over 40 resolutions of support from various city and county governments in addition to other important organizations such as the Fulton County Farm Bureau.

The semi-annual 336 Update is a newsletter that currently has a mailing and e-mail list of over 3,000 subscribers. You can find current and past issues of the 336 Update via the link on this site.

The name of the Coalition was christened from Illinois 336 that is under construction (and fully funded) connecting Quincy and Macomb. Portions are currently open to traffic with the remainder slated to be completed by 2008. Illinois 336 would be the logical extension running from Macomb to Peoria and is, in fact, referenced as such by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Four Lane Highways

Technically, four lane highways are classified into two categories…Freeways and Expressways.

Freeways are constructed to interstate standards. The access to and from the freeway is typically more limited. Examples in the Central Illinois area would be Interstates I-74, I-80, and I-55.

Expressways interchanges are typically "at grade" (making use of turn lanes) and frequently have more access points to and from the highways. Area examples include Route 67 from Macomb to Monmouth and the four-lane portion of Route 24 running south from Bartonville.

The 336 Coalition has been an advocate of the highway being an expressway with as many at grade crossings as possible. Ultimately, the type of road that will be built will be an outcome of the Phase I process conducted by IDOT.

Building a Four Lane Highway

There are three phases to the construction of a highway in the State of Illinois.

Phase I involves determining all of the possible corridors that the highway may take, holding numerous public hearings to garner public input on each potential corridor, selecting a preferred corridor and performing the necessary environmental assessment and, finally, estimating the likely cost for Phase II and Phase III of the project.

The final location of the approved corridor is the primary product of Phase I planning. Corridor selection considers several factors such as convenient access to the population base along the route, limited loss of valuable farm ground, environmental issues, and the ultimate cost of the project along the selected corridor.

Phase II entails designing construction plans and specifications from which contractors can submit bids. Phase II could also include some monies needed to acquire certain parcels of land that may be needed.

Phase III is the time when bids are taken and construction commences.

Costs

Phase I of the Peoria to Macomb portion of Illinois 336 is fully funded at a cost of $12.5 million. Estimates for completion of Phase II and Phase III are currently estimated to be at or near #640 with the range dependent upon time of completion and effects of inflation at the time of completion.

Timetable

It has been said that it can take as long as twenty (20) years or more to build a four-lane highway. Some argue that is has already over forty (40) years for this highway dating back to an original plan that was a component of the Chicago to Kansas City Highway.

Going forward, the timetable will very much depend on having the remaining funding available as IDOT proceeds through each of the three phases. If funding is available, it could take as few as five to ten years to see the highway completed. Portions of the highway would be opened to traffic as various segments are completed.

The Role of the 336 Member/Supporter

Grass roots support over the duration of all three phases of the highway building process is the single most important factor in having Illinois 336 from Peoria to Macomb become a reality. Belonging to the 336 Coalition, attending 336 events, keeping the need for Highway 336 in front our elected officials and candidates, avoiding being drawn into debates over where the highway will or won't go, are all critical for the successful completion of this very important project to West Central Illinois.