With peak roadside mowing season in full swing, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is reminding drivers to slow down, use caution, and stay alert when approaching mowing crews and equipment along highways and roadways.
The heaviest mowing period will continue through August 15th, as IDOT times its operations to help protect and promote essential pollinator habitats.
IDOT performs two primary types of mowing during the summer. Safety mowing—performed adjacent to roadways as needed—ensures clear visibility and motorist safety. Maintenance mowing, which began around July 1st and typically lasts about six weeks, focuses on areas near culverts, ditches, traffic signs, and other structures. These operations follow the Illinois Monarch Project Mowing Guidelines for Pollinators, designed to preserve nectar sources and natural habitat.
The mowing schedule is carefully crafted to balance roadway safety with environmental stewardship. It supports pollinator activity critical to the reproduction of flowers, fruits, and vegetables that play a vital role in Illinois’ ecosystem and agriculture. IDOT’s efforts also help protect the rusty patched bumble bee, an endangered species, and the monarch butterfly, Illinois’ official state insect.
IDOT joined the Illinois Monarch Project in 2020 and helped launch the Illinois Monarch Action Plan, a statewide initiative that aims to ensure the monarch’s survival and successful migration by increasing and protecting native habitat.
To learn more about IDOT’s mowing efforts and pollinator preservation, visit IDOT’s YouTube channel to view a short informative video.
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