Two pedestrian improvement projects are set to begin in downtown the first week of June, focusing on enhancing pedestrian and bicycle access. These projects will necessitate lane closures and traffic pattern changes on Main Street/IL 64 at the 1st Street Plaza north entrance and on Illinois Street, just west of the Fox River. Efforts will be made to coordinate these projects to minimize disruption through the downtown area.
The final phase of the 1st Street Plaza project is expected to commence in early June 2025, with completion anticipated by September 2025. The work includes several enhancements: “A new crosswalk will be installed across Main Street to the plaza’s north entrance,” along with adjustments to existing traffic signals to reduce pedestrian wait times. Additionally, modifications will be made to the sidewalk at the plaza’s north entrance, aligning new traffic signal heads with new pedestrian crosswalks and sidewalks. Signal poles will also be relocated for alignment with the new Main Street crosswalk.
Main Street traffic will face impacts in both directions within the project area between 2nd Street/IL Rt. 31 and Riverside Avenue. Drivers should prepare for delays and changing traffic patterns, including shifting lanes, lane closures, and possibly brief road closures. Signs will alert drivers to these changes.
For more details and updates about this project, visit the Main Street Pedestrian Improvements project page on the City website.
The crossing improvement on Illinois Street at the Fox River Trail was identified as a high priority in the 2023 St. Charles Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan due to its key location for pedestrians heading downtown or toward businesses near 1st Street Plaza. This project is scheduled to start on June 2 and last approximately three months. Planned improvements include “creating a new pedestrian refuge island across Illinois Street” and reducing lanes on Illinois Street to accommodate dedicated bike lanes between Riverside Avenue and 1st Street.
Traffic delays are expected on both Illinois Street Bridge and from South 1st Street to Riverside Avenue during this period. Temporary disruptions may occur affecting sidewalks and entrances around Fox Island Square throughout construction.
For further information about this initiative, visit the Illinois Mid-Block Pedestrian Crossing project page on the City website.
