Freeport, Illinois
Freeport Highway 75 Corridor Study

In 1988, the Illinois Department of Transportation completed a Highway 20 bypass on the north side of Freeport. As a result, Highway 75, which entered the community from the north, became a new entry corridor for Highway 20 travelers. The negative aspect of this new entry was that Highway 75 was a highly deteriorated and distressed corridor which did not provide a positive image to visitors entering the community.

Camiros, Ltd. was retained by the Freeport Economic Development Corporation to prepare a Highway 75 corridor study focusing on redevelopment opportunities and beautification improvements which could be implemented along the corridor. The plan prepared by Camiros focused on short-term enhancements such as landscaping, screening, and demolition and cleanup of existing vacant structures. In addition, long-term opportunities for redevelopment of the corridor were presented by Camiros with primary emphasis placed on the construction of flood control improvements to remove portions of the corridor from the 100-year floodplain. The city decided to proceed with both short-term and long-term corridor improvements.