BELVIDERE, Ill. (WTVO) — The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is inviting Boone County residents to weigh in on a major infrastructure project that could reshape traffic flow in the region.

An open house public meeting will be held on Thursday, Oct. 26, at the Boone County Administration Building to discuss the proposed improvements to the US Business 20 Belvidere Bypass.

Officials say the Belvidere Bypass, or Jim Gang Expressway, has served the region for nearly 50 years, connecting residential neighborhoods, retail centers, and rural areas to I-90 via Genoa Road. But with increasing traffic demands and aging infrastructure, IDOT says the time has come for a comprehensive upgrade.

Planned improvements include reconstructing the stretch between Logan Avenue and Pearl Street

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