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Stephenson County votes to pursue grant for Danville–Galena intersection planning and design
Summary
County staff said they will apply for a grant to fund planning and design to realign the skewed Danville Road–Galena Road intersection; the board approved pursuing the funding opportunity. Staff estimated $360,000 for planning and design and said an additional $7.55 million for right-of-way and relocation would not be covered by the grant.
Stephenson County staff said the county will apply for a federal or state notice of funding opportunity to pay for planning and design work to realign the Danville Road–Galena Road intersection, and the board approved pursuing the grant application.
Highway Department staff described the intersection as heavily skewed and constrained by nearby features, including a railroad to the west, storage facilities to the northwest and a new solar farm to the northeast. "We've tried to fit a conventional intersection there. It's too skewed... We have to realign it," the Highway Department staff member said, adding that the phase 1 study identified those constraints.
Staff presented estimates for project phases and funding: the application would request about $360,000 for planning and design, while an additional estimated $7,552,000 for right-of-way and relocation would not be eligible under the grant, staff said. "We're asking for $360,000 for the plan and design, and then, only $7,552,000 for a right of way. They won't pay for that," staff said.
Board members discussed alternative alignments and safety goals; one board member said Stagecoach Road conceivably offered a different alignment but staff said prior planning favored the Danville–Galena realignment and that parcel constraints limit westward shifts. Staff warned that the funding portal opens and closes quickly and that timely submission will be important.
A motion to authorize staff to pursue the notice of funding opportunity was made and seconded; the transcript records the motion as moved by "Mister Doris" and seconded by "Mister Madero." The chair called for the vote and the motion passed; the record does not list a roll-call tally.
Why it matters: if funded, the planning and design grant would pay for preliminary engineering to address a skewed intersection and safety concerns; substantial right-of-way and construction costs remain and would require separate funding.
Staff said they will prepare and submit the application when the portal opens and will return to the board with updates on the application status and any required local match or commitments.
