Streets

Streets & Sewers Superintendent
217.431.3446

The Street Division is responsible for general maintenance of all city streets, signage, downtown street lights, and traffic signals in addition to snow removal in the winter. That responsibility is also shared by all public works employees.

General Street MAINTENANCE

The Street Department is responsible for general maintenance of over 430 lane miles of road and almost as many alleys. Although patching potholes and grading alleys is part of general maintenance, the street department has diversified their skill level to take on much larger repairs from a small curb replacement projects to full road replacement.

REsident Shared Concrete Program

For those of you that have had any concrete work done, you’re aware that it isn’t cheap. Due to the costs associated with curb, sidewalk and driveway approaches the city does not maintain their regular maintenance. Many citizens cannot afford the standard upkeep, but this is where we can help. Please contact the Street Department and or Marlys Sutton of the Urban Services Department for further details.

Street Lighting & Traffic Signals

The Streets Department maintains more than 400 street lights in the greater downtown area. All other street lights are owned and maintained by Ameren Illinois. Starting last year we began converting our street lighting from the typical standard High Pressure Sodium (HPS) to Light Emitting Diode (LED). LED lighting gives us many advantages, greater illumination distribution, increased longevity and decreased energy consumption. The LED conversion will take some time, but we got a great start last year on South Gilbert, from 4th Street to Memorial Bridge.

The Street Department is responsible maintaining 43 signalized intersections within the city limits. As with the street lights all traffic signals were switched to LED in 2007 for increased efficiency and illumination.

Blockages: Debris can clog storm sewer grates and even the piping. The City regularly maintains these items, but there are times when blockages still occur. If you see that a grate is covered, please remove the material if it is safe to do so. Otherwise, please report the issue to us so we can address it.

When thinking of the street department you likely think of working in the roads, but what is below ground is just as important. The street department maintains over 20 miles of storm sewer as well as the numerous open cut ditches and culverts throughout the city. For issues regarding a residential culvert affecting your drive approach please contact Public Works .

The City maintains inlets, piping, and ditches within the public right-of-way to convey water runoff their appropriate discharge points. During heavy or long rain events, portions of the system may overload causing standing water on property or the roadway.

Storm Sewers

Street Signage & Wayfinding