The study area focuses on potential improvements at the US 20 and Shales Parkway intersection and the existing interchange at Villa Street. In order to identify and capture potential impacts of alternatives, the study extends west along US 20 to Poplar Creek and east along US 20 to Illinois Route 59.
Within the study area, US 20 is identified as a Strategic Regional Arterial, which indicates it is intended to carry a larger volume of traffic at higher speeds as a complement to the region’s expressway systems. US 20 has several different roadway and median sections as it transitions from a 55 miles per hour highway with a concrete barrier separated median to a 45 miles per hour roadway with a striped median. Shales Parkway is a significant north-south roadway connecting to US 20 where US 20 transitions from a higher speed freeway/ expressway to a 55 miles per hour highway with a concrete barrier.
The intersection of US 20 at Shales Parkway is identified as Safety Tier Critical by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The Safety Tiers categorize roadway segments and intersections in Illinois based on their level of safety performance and opportunity for improvement, providing a rating for relative comparison. Safety Tier Critical indicates the US 20 at Shales Parkway intersection has a higher crash rate and more crashes resulting in injury when compared to other signalized intersections.
Within the study area, US 20 is identified as a Strategic Regional Arterial, which indicates it is intended to carry a larger volume of traffic at higher speeds as a complement to the region’s expressway systems. US 20 has several different roadway and median sections as it transitions from a 55 miles per hour highway with a concrete barrier separated median to a 45 miles per hour roadway with a striped median. Shales Parkway is a significant north-south roadway connecting to US 20 where US 20 transitions from a higher speed freeway/ expressway to a 55 miles per hour highway with a concrete barrier.
The intersection of US 20 at Shales Parkway is identified as Safety Tier Critical by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The Safety Tiers categorize roadway segments and intersections in Illinois based on their level of safety performance and opportunity for improvement, providing a rating for relative comparison. Safety Tier Critical indicates the US 20 at Shales Parkway intersection has a higher crash rate and more crashes resulting in injury when compared to other signalized intersections.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
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BY THE NUMBERS
OVER
42,000
VEHICLES PER DAY ALONG
US 20 OVER
19,100
VEHICLES PER DAY ALONG
SHALES PARKWAY OVER
5,750
VEHICLES PER DAY ALONG
ALONG VILLA STREET |
AVERAGE INTERSECTION DELAY
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LEVEL OF SERVICE (LOS) ILLUSTRATION
Level of Service (LOS) represents a qualitative assessment of a road’s operating conditions, generally indicated on a scale from A to F, with free flow rated LOS A and heavy congestion rated LOS F. A Level of Service D is considered acceptable along Illinois Department of Transportation Strategic Regional Arterial systems.
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