IDOT’s Carrie Nelsen Shares Safety Focus and 2026 Project Outlook with Southern Illinois Crews

CARBONDALE, IL — As construction activity ramps up across Southern Illinois, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) District 9 Program Development Engineer Carrie Nelsen, P.E., is continuing to engage directly with contractors and communities to discuss the projects shaping the region’s transportation system.

Carrie Nelsen recently visited E.T. Simonds Construction’s annual Safety Day on March 5 in Carbondale, where nearly 300 employees gathered ahead of the 2026 construction season for training, health screenings, and project updates. The event also served as an opportunity for Nelsen to share insight into upcoming work across Southern Illinois and connect directly with the crews responsible for delivering it.

District 9, which covers the 16 southernmost counties in Illinois, is currently managing a significant volume of infrastructure work. According to Nelsen, the region has seen more than $250 million in awarded contracts annually in recent years, with more than $1 billion in active construction projects underway.

“We’re here to improve the transportation system,” Nelsen said. “If you have a transportation problem, bring it to us. Let’s talk about the ideas, because every project has trade-offs, and we want to work with communities to find the best solutions.”

During her presentation, Carrie Nelsen outlined a number of active and upcoming projects across the region, including continued work on the Interstate 57 corridor, the ongoing rehabilitation of the I-24 Ohio River Bridge, and planned improvements along Illinois 13 in Carbondale. She  highlighted major investments in bridge rehabilitation, culvert replacements, and intersection upgrades designed to improve long-term safety and mobility.

Safety remains a central focus of those efforts. “When we look at projects, safety is always our number one priority,” Nelsen said. “Whether it’s improving the quality of the roadway or addressing specific crash locations, we’re focused on reducing the most severe and fatal accidents wherever we can.”

Nelsen also emphasized the importance of public engagement throughout the project lifecycle, noting that many transportation improvements take years to move from planning to construction. “There’s often a disconnect,” she said. “We do a lot of public involvement early on, then there can be a long gap before construction begins. People see the work later and don’t always connect it back to the planning or understand why it’s happening.”

To address that gap, IDOT continues to expand its use of community advisory groups and local outreach efforts, bringing together business owners, local leaders, and residents to help shape project decisions and improve communication.

E.T. Simonds’ Safety Day provided a setting for those conversations while reinforcing the shared responsibility between agencies, contractors, and the public as construction activity increases.

“We bring our entire team together each year to focus on safety and preparation for the season ahead,” said Beck Simonds of E.T. Simonds Construction. “We train our people to look out for one another on every job site, and as work increases across the region, we’re asking the public to do the same. Slow down, stay alert, and eliminate distractions when traveling through work zones.”

With crews returning to job sites across Southern Illinois, officials say that awareness, both on the job and behind the wheel, will play a critical role in ensuring a safe and productive construction season.