The Grainger College of Engineering
Illinois Center for Transportation

New ICT-IDOT projects

9/15/2025 McCall Macomber

Illinois Center for Transportation is pleased to announce the start of new Illinois Department of Transportation-sponsored projects, from most recent start date.

R27-SP79: IDOT, FHWA, USFWS, USACE Aquatic Species Bridge Replacement Programmatic Agreement
Dan Salas, University of Illinois Chicago
Kimberly Burkwald, Illinois Department of Transportation

The state of Illinois has over 35,000 bridges and over a dozen threatened and endangered aquatic species, making it critical to streamline the required coordination to ensure environmental compliance.
The state of Illinois has over 35,000 bridges and over a dozen threatened and endangered aquatic species, making it critical to streamline the required coordination to ensure environmental compliance.

IDOT is required to comply with environmental laws and regulations when threatened and endangered species are present at a construction site. IDOT currently coordinates with federal and state regulatory resource agencies on a project-by-project basis.

Researchers will develop a proposed programmatic agreement that IDOT may use to standardize and expedite the coordination process when threatened and endangered species are present at bridge construction sites. In addition, they will use the proposed agreement as an outline to develop additional programmatic agreements for IDOT.

Successfully implementing a programmatic agreement for bridge construction and rehabilitation projects will allow IDOT to address required environmental concerns in a timelier manner, reducing the time between developing a construction project and starting construction.

The project will conclude July 2026.

R27-SP77: Synthesis of Capabilities, Opportunities, and Research Needs in UAS Technology for High-Precision Bridge Inspection
Mohamad Alipour, Larry Fahnestock and Mani Golparvar-Fard, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Mark Shaffer, Illinois Department of Transportation

A construction worker flying a drone
In 2022, the Federal Highway Administration updated the National Bridge Inspection Standards to include the use of unmanned aircraft systems in bridge inspections. Unmanned aerial systems may improve inspector’s access to hard-to-see areas, minimize use of heavy equipment and increase inspector safety.

Technologies to perform bridge inspections are rapidly advancing, highlighting the need for transportation agencies to explore their potential use for bridge inspection work.

This project will examine how unmanned aircraft systems can improve the safety, efficiency and quality of various types of bridge inspections. Researchers will identify barriers to implementation as well as develop recommendations for effective use in IDOT bridge inspections.

Effectively using new bridge inspection technologies will allow IDOT to make better decisions in contracting inspection work and buying inspection equipment, allowing the agency to inspect, repair and load rate bridges more accurately and with less interference to traffic.

The project will end June 2026.

R27-SP78: Concrete Strength Sensing Using REBEL Sensors
Mohammad Hossain and Matthew Soltani, Bradley University
Charles Wienrank and Xinyu Sun, Illinois Department of Transportation

REBEL sensor technology, developed by Purdue University, during a verification test by the Indiana Department of Transportation.
Photo Credit: Purdue University/Rui He
REBEL sensor technology, developed by Purdue University, during a verification test by the Indiana Department of Transportation.

Accurately determining the strength of in-place concrete helps to ensure its quality, avoid premature failure and keep construction projects on track.

This project will evaluate the use of REBEL (resonance-based embedded layer) sensors, which nondestructively assess real-time strength of concrete, for use in IDOT projects. Researchers will evaluate the accuracy, reliability and practicality of REBEL sensors compared to IDOT’s currently specified test methods.

The results of this project will help IDOT decide if it can incorporate acoustic resonance methods, like REBEL sensors, into its specifications as well as determine the validity of REBEL sensors for use in IDOT projects. Allowing this method into IDOT’s specifications can potentially enhance overall quality control/assurance as well as provide accurate and real-time strength data that will help determine if a roadway can open early to the public.

The project will conclude May 2026.

R27-275: Seismic Ground Motions for IDOT Geotechnical Assets
Youssef Hashash and Scott Olson, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Heather Shoup and Mark Shaffer, Illinois Department of Transportation

Bridges in Illinois are subject to seismic requirements from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, which requires site-specific seismic ground shaking hazards in seismic design of transportation infrastructure.
Bridges in Illinois are subject to seismic requirements from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, which requires site-specific seismic ground shaking hazards in seismic design of transportation infrastructure.

Geotechnical investigations into seismic-related issues often require designers to make assumptions as to the behavior of the soils in the event of an earthquake. One assumption is the motion of the ground to which the soils are subjected. These assumptions can have wide-reaching effects, so it is important that engineers have many tools available to aid in their assumptions.

The goal of this project is to determine the most appropriate ground motions at different locations in Illinois. Researchers will develop a tool for IDOT bridge designers and geotechnical engineers that will provide site-specific ground motions.

Creating more consistent site-specific seismic designs will allow IDOT to determine and justify the appropriate ground motion in a design more quickly as well as to develop high-performing and cost-effective bridge designs.

The project will conclude August 2028.

R27-278: Requirements of Aggregate Materials as Subbase, Base, Surface, and Shoulder Courses
Erol Tutumluer, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Abdolreza Osouli, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Andrew Stolba and Heather Shoup, Illinois Department of Transportation

Use of fine aggregate in pavement, such as sand or crushed stone, may help increase its durability and stability.
Use of fine aggregate in pavement, such as sand or crushed stone, may help increase its durability and stability.

This project will determine how the type and amount of fine aggregate in subbase, base, surface or shoulder coarse materials impacts aggregate performance under traffic loads.

Researchers will evaluate field performance of lab findings from ICT-IDOT project R27-157 using an accelerated pavement testing device to simulate traffic loads on aggregate layers. They aim to determine which material properties improve strength and durability and what dust ratio has the best performance.

IDOT will use the results to update their road construction policies, allowing them to build higher performing roadways that will extend the life of pavement as well as reduce costs.

The project will conclude August 2028.

R27-281: IL-Pave: Development of an Integrated Tool to Optimize Pavement Energy and Cost
Imad Al-Qadi, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
John Senger, Illinois Department of Transportation

The life cycle of pavement consists of five stages: material production, construction, use, maintenance and end of life.
The life cycle of pavement consists of five stages: material production, construction, use, maintenance and end of life.

Illinois ranks third in total lane miles as well as freight activity, according to the Federal Highway Administration, making it critical to build and maintain its roadways effectively.

One solution is to account for energy use and expenses throughout the entire life cycle of pavement, from selecting materials to end of life, using life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis, respectively. Researchers will develop a tool for IDOT that will allow users to see energy and economic impacts for pavement projects in Illinois and to compare different pavement options side by side.

Successful implementation of the tool will allow IDOT to choose pavement designs and maintenance options that balance performance with costs and energy impact.

The project will end August 2028.

R27-282: Effectiveness of Wearable Safety Lights for Nighttime Workers
Ronald Gibbons and Rugved Kore, Virginia Tech
Tim Peters and Gregory Gurski, Illinois Department of Transportation

Wearable safety lights may be included on road workers’ safety vests, harnesses and hats as well as attached to their wrists and ankles, among other uses.
Wearable safety lights may be included on road workers’ safety vests, harnesses and hats as well as attached to their wrists and ankles, among other uses.

Technologies for wearable safety lights, such as lighted safety vests, have evolved in recent years, allowing for use in construction to improve worker visibility.

The aim of this project is to evaluate wearable safety lights for use to enhance the safety of road workers. The researchers will test the brightness of wearable safety lights as well as various types of lighting through several potential uses such as construction, road maintenance and patrol.

The researchers will provide IDOT and road maintenance agencies with safety-enhancement recommendations for workers, aiming to increase worker visibility and reduce the number of crashes involving workers.

The project will conclude August 2027.

R27-283: Turn-on-Red Prohibitions for Dual Right-Turn Lanes
Christopher Day, Iowa State University
Meiwu An, Illinois Department of Transportation

The project will examine right turn on red at signalized intersections where there are two right-turn lanes. Researchers will study the impacts of different right-turn-on-red configurations at various locations on safety performance and traffic level of service by analyzing crash and traffic data as well as observing travel behaviors at selected intersections.

The researchers will develop recommendations for right-turn-on-red policies, helping transportation agencies to improve traffic safety and travel efficiency as well as ensure consistent practices across IDOT districts.

The project will conclude February 2027.

R27-284: Utilizing Performance Measures for Metropolitan Planning Organizations
Yazan Abukhalil, Iowa State University
Robert Innis, Illinois Department of Transportation

Illinois contains 16 metropolitan planning organizations that work with Illinois Department of Transportation to ensure funding for transportation projects are based on a comprehensive, cooperative and continuing planning process.
Illinois contains 16 metropolitan planning organizations that work with Illinois Department of Transportation to ensure funding for transportation projects are based on a comprehensive, cooperative and continuing planning process.

Metropolitan planning organizations work closely with state transportation agencies to set and monitor performance targets for transportation.

The goal of the project is to identify best practices for Illinois MPOs to use and develop performance measures. Researchers will develop a guide for MPOs by identifying challenges and potential solutions through reviewing documents from transportation and planning agencies as well as conducting workshops and surveys.

Developing a guide will help enhance IDOT’s collaboration with MPOs as well as track performance more effectively and consistently.

The project will end August 2027.

R27-285: Replacing the Illinois Traffic Projection Tool
L.D. White and Ioannis Tsapakis, Texas A&M University
Mike Miller and William Morgan, Illinois Department of Transportation

The state of Illinois ranks third in the U.S. in number of interstate miles as well as total bridges, making it critical to accurately predict long-term traffic trends to best direct transportation planning projects.
The state of Illinois ranks third in the U.S. in number of interstate miles as well as total bridges, making it critical to accurately predict long-term traffic trends to best direct transportation planning projects.

Predicting long-term traffic trends allows transportation agencies to identify and plan transportation projects, helping to reduce congestion and optimize infrastructure development.

Researchers will upgrade Illinois’ current traffic projection tool to include traffic count projections up to 25 years in the future as well as allow users to review historical traffic count data on any given roadway.

The updated tool will allow for more accurate and streamlined long-range traffic forecasting, reducing the manual effort required to update data and process forecasts.

The project will conclude August 2027.

R27-286: Laws, Ordinances, and Practices Related to All-Terrain Vehicles and Utility Task Vehicles
Timothy Stark, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Tim Peters, Illinois Department of Transportation

In Illinois, all-terrain vehicles and utility task vehicles are allowed on roads for farm use only, provided precautions such as proper signage and safety equipment are in place.
In Illinois, all-terrain vehicles and utility task vehicles are allowed on roads for farm use only, provided precautions such as proper signage and safety equipment are in place.

Researchers will examine on-road allowances of all-terrain vehicles and utility task vehicles in Illinois per county as well as analyze other state’s practices. They will develop a report that may be presented to legislators that provides the risks and potential benefits of allowing ATVs and UTVs on roadways.

The research will allow IDOT to make better policy decisions as well as reduce fatalities and injury crashes associated with ATVs and UTVs.

The project will conclude February 2027.

R27-287: Facilitating Scalability and Field Implementation of Illinois-Specific Non-Proprietary UHPC Mixes
Nishant Garg, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Matthew Gombeda, Illinois Institute of Technology
Daniel Tobias and Mark Shaffer, Illinois Department of Transportation

Ultra-high-performance concrete has high compressive strength, high ductility, superior impact resistance and extended service life compared to traditional concrete.
Ultra-high-performance concrete has high compressive strength, high ductility, superior impact resistance and extended service life compared to traditional concrete.

Ultra-high-performance concrete has nearly five times the strength of traditional concrete but cannot be mixed using traditional methods due to its density.

Researchers aim to devise methodologies for practical field deployment of nonproprietary UHPC mixes developed in ICT-IDOT project R27-232 for use in construction and repair projects. Other aspects of methodology development include a framework for safe and cost-effective construction practices.

More widespread adoption of UHPC will help provide longer-lasting structures, reducing time and money spent on repairs.

The project will conclude August 2028.