IDOT shifts Highway 2 from resurfacing to full reconstruction; South Beloit told major work likely in 2029–2030

City Administrator Sonia told the South Beloit City Council on Jan. 20 that the Illinois Department of Transportation has re-scoped planned work on Highway 2 between the state line and Prairie Hill from a resurfacing into a full reconstruction.

"Now that is kind of on the cusp and they're looking at just doing a complete reconstruction for the entire stretch," Sonia said, warning the change will likely delay the timeline because the project may require additional right-of-way acquisition and extra engineering for turn radiuses. She said that phase two (design engineering) is likely to shift into 2028 and that construction is now expected in 2029 or 2030.

The city administrator said IDOT plans a public input meeting in late 2026 or early 2027 to present updated plans and gather feedback from residents. "So watch for that," she advised, noting the change is a mix of "good news with some bad news": a fuller reconstruction will be more durable but will lengthen the schedule.

Sonia said the shift means more extensive engineering work and potential property‑acquisition steps are likely to be necessary, and she urged residents to attend the public input meeting when IDOT schedules it. The council did not take formal action on the item; the update was presented as an informational report.

Next steps: IDOT will hold the public input meeting (late 2026/early 2027) and the city will continue to request and relay updates on design and right-of-way needs.