Du Quoin Illinois 14 project slated for 2026 work

A planned Illinois Department of Transportation project south of Du Quoin is expected to bring daytime lane closures and alternating traffic during the 2026 construction season.

The work covers approximately 1.6 miles of Illinois 14 between U.S. 51 and Old Illinois 14 south of Du Quoin. The state highway project has direct implications for local commuters, freight operators, residents and businesses along the corridor.

What the project includes

IDOT’s project information describes more than a simple resurfacing job. Planned work includes milling and resurfacing the roadway, shoulder improvements, culvert replacement, drainage-related improvements and pavement patching.

IDOT also says tree removal and utility relocations are underway. That current activity does not mean every part of the construction project has begun. The broader roadway work remains planned for the 2026 construction season.

What drivers should expect

Local reporting indicates that daytime lane closures are expected to be controlled by flaggers. That generally means traffic will move through the work area in alternating directions rather than the highway being fully closed, although conditions may change as individual work stages begin.

Drivers using Illinois 14 should plan for possible delays when flaggers are active. Commuters and freight operators may need additional travel time, particularly during work periods or when equipment, drainage work or utility activity narrows the available roadway.

Residents and businesses along the corridor may also see temporary changes in driveway, property or customer access. Access to the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds is another practical issue for travelers to monitor, but the approved project information does not establish a fairground closure or a specific disruption schedule.

Schedule is not yet day-by-day

The IDOT contract record lists an 85-working-day contract duration. That provides context for the expected length of the construction effort, but it is not the same as a fixed public start date or guaranteed calendar completion date.

The currently available materials do not establish a final day-by-day schedule for lane closures. Residents should watch for later IDOT traffic notices and project updates as the construction sequence becomes more specific.

For Du Quoin, the project matters because it combines pavement work with culvert, drainage, shoulder and utility-related activity on a corridor used for daily travel and freight movement. Planning extra time and watching for changing traffic-control information will be important once the roadway work moves into its active construction stages.

Sources

• Illinois Department of Transportation Perry County project page
• IDOT Contract 072-78813 detail
• County Journal, July 2, 2026 edition