Editor’s note: As an example of the capability of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) new Web site, a search of the site (www.dot.il.gov/dashboardpublic ^[1]) shows local contractor William Charles, Ltd., holds the following IDOT contracts:

$1,199,557 for a portion of U.S. Business 20, 0.35 miles west of Meridian Road, west of Rockford;

$732,279 for work on Illinois 72 and Illinois 251;

$398,389 for Illinois 251 from First Avenue/Walnut Street to Pope Street in Rockford (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act project);

$269,299 for U.S. Business 20 and Weldon Road, west of Rockford;

$518,841 for U.S. Business 20 (Jefferson Street) from Mulberry Street to East State Street in Rockford (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act project);

$1,138,542 for Illinois 251 from Windsor Road to Roosevelt Road in Machesney Park (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act project); and

$610,289 for Illinois 251 from Walnut Street to Whitman Street bridge in Rockford (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act project).

A quick search of the Illinois State Board of Elections’ Web site shows William Charles has donated $141,599.35 to area politicians. The total does not take into account subsidiary companies with different names, or contributions from company executives.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.—Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Gary Hannig announced Aug. 6 that IDOT’s new innovative Web site, The Construction Zone Dashboard, has been launched.

The new Web site provides up-to-date information about currently active construction contracts, including those funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, after contract execution.

“This is one more way to offer more accessibility, accountability and transparency within our agency,” Hannig said. “The public can get important information about projects in their communities in the convenience of their own home 24 hours a day, seven days a week, just by logging on.”

The public can search for contracts by location, IDOT district or contractor. The Web site also provides a means for viewing the location of the contract on a map, the current status of the project, as well as the location of the work, how far along the work is and an estimate of the completion date.

For more information about projects in your area, visit the new site, the Construction Zone Dashboard, at www.dot.il.gov/dashboardpublic ^[1]. The user-friendly Web site will be updated daily.