If you’ve been anxiously waiting for the state to finish fixing West Sixth Street, city officials have good news and bad news.

The good news is that repaving the road, after being in the works for years, is finally on the schedule at the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

The bad news is that the road surface won’t be fixed until 2027.

In a memo in advance of Monday’s City Council meeting, City Clerk Kasey Mitchell wrote, “Staff met this week with representatives from IDOT, Henry County, and other local municipalities to discuss upcoming roadway projects throughout Henry County. While the meeting was productive, IDOT indicated that the full reconstruction of Route 81 has been delayed until 2027.”

The West Sixth Street schedule was discussed at the council meeting. Mayor Gary Moore said work on the highway reconstruction will start next year, probably in June.

But the work will consist of removing trees, installing sidewalks, building retaining walls and other preparations for paving the following year.

“It’s been delayed many times,’ the mayor said of the West Sixth Street project. Those delays have included difficulty in obtaining the right-of-way needed for the street work.

Mitchell’s memo gave hope for another needed road project in Kewanee: “IDOT also mentioned future plans for a Route 78 overhaul.” There was no mention of the timing or scope of such a project.