IDOT to open roads for holiday rush

[NOV. 24, 2004]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced that construction work on state highways will be suspended, where possible, to give motorists a break for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Construction zone areas will be open when possible for normal traffic patterns beginning Wednesday at 3 p.m. and will remain open until midnight Sunday.

However, there will be construction zones throughout the state that will continue to have lane closures because of the type of work under way. Motorists are advised to slow down and drive with caution through these zones and are reminded that work zone speed limits are still in effect.

In the greater Chicago area, all lanes on the Edens, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Stevenson, Dan Ryan and Bishop Ford expressways, as well as interstates 80 and 57 will be open, except for locations identified below.

Areas that will continue to have lane closures are as follows:

Cass County

Illinois 136, one mile east and one mile west of Armington Spur -- bridge rehabilitation. One lane open, controlled by signals.

Cook County

I-57 under Throop Street and at 107th Street -- bridge superstructure replacement. Roads should be opened by the end of November. There will be nighttime lane closures on I-57 at various times during the project. The project will be suspended for the winter sometime in December. Motorists should drive with care through the construction zone. There will be shoulder and nighttime closures on I-57. There is a posted detour for 107th Street for oversized trucks. Traffic on 107th Street will use the northbound lanes.

Dan Ryan Expressway I-90-94 from the I-90 Skyway interchange to Wentworth Avenue -- bridge rehabilitation and replacement. The right lane is required to exit to the Skyway. The local lanes are being reconstructed. Use the left lane to continue southbound on the Dan Ryan. Motorists should be alert to this new traffic pattern and follow signs. Chicago Skyway interchange, along with ramps and the bridges over State Street-67th Street bridge, is closed. Southbound Dan Ryan exit to 71st Street and southbound Dan Ryan entrance from 67th Street, as well as northbound Dan Ryan exit to 67th Street and southbound entrance from 71st Street, U.S. 75th Street or 59th Street, Wells Street, between 63rd Street and 65th Street, will be closed until August 2005. Detour for trucks and cars will be west on 63rd Street to south on Stewart Avenue to 67th Street, east on 67th to South Wentworth Avenue. Cars will also have the option to travel west on 65th Street to South Stewart Avenue and south on Stewart to 67th. The ramp from southbound Dan Ryan to eastbound I-90 will remain open. Be extremely cautious at all times and obey all traffic signs and speed limit. Motorists should expect delays.

I-90, 94 Dan Ryan Expressway from 31st Street to 71st Street -- water main relocation. Partial lane closures on Wells Avenue and Wentworth Avenue at 59th, 63rd, 51st, 69th, 32nd and 37th streets for water main replacement work.

I-90, 94 Dan Ryan Expressway from 67th to 69th streets -- bridge reconstruction, new lanes and ramp improvements. Partial lane closures on Dan Ryan to I-90 Skyway southbound to eastbound and westbound to northbound ramps will be closed until June 30, 2005. One lane will always be open for traffic during construction for Skyway access. Wells Street between 63rd Street and 65th Street will be closed until August 2005. Truck and car detours will be east on 63rd to south on Stewart Avenue to 67th Street to South Wentworth Avenue. Cars will also have the option to travel west on 65th Street to South Stewart Avenue and south on Stewart to 67th. Partial lane closures of Dan Ryan to I-90 Skyway southbound to eastbound and westbound to northbound ramps will be restricted until June 30, 2005. One lane will be open in both directions for traffic during construction. The 67th Street bridge will be closed until May 24, 2005. Look for permanent closures between 63rd and 65th Street, continuing until August 2005.

I-94 Dan Ryan Expressway at Wells Street, Lafayette Avenue and Wentworth Avenue, near the Dan Ryan -- retaining wall and bridge reconstruction. Wells Street between 63rd and 65th Street will be closed starting Aug. 2, 2005. The detour will be on South Yale Street to 65th, east on 65th to South Wentworth Avenue. Motorists will also have the option to travel west on 65th to South Stewart Avenue, south on Stewart to 67th or detour 63rd Street to Stewart to 67th to South Wentworth.

57th Street over I-90-94 and ramps, all located along I-94-90 from 57th Street to 47th Street -- construction of retaining walls and bridge rehabilitation. 6.08 miles of reconstruction of frontage roads, construction of retaining walls, bridge rehabilitation of the existing structure carrying 57th Street over I-94-90 and ramps, all located along I-94-90 between 57th and 47th.

I-94-90 Dan Ryan Expressway from 31st Street to I-57 interchange in Chicago -- jacking water main and utility adjustment. 1.88 miles of jacking water main and utility adjustment along 8.82 miles of I-94-90.

I-94-90 from 31st Street to 47th Street to 31st Street ramp -- reconstruction and temporary shoulders. The southbound 31st Street entrance ramp is closed and the 35th Street exit ramp is closed. Northbound, the 35th Street entrance ramp is closed and the 31st Street exit ramp is closed. All four ramps will be closed until Aug. 3, 2005. 1.68 miles of ramp reconstruction northbound from 31st Street to 39th Street and temporary shoulders from 31st to 47th, all located along I-94-90.

I-94-90 Dan Ryan Expressway from 31st Street to 47th Street to 31st Street ramp -- reconstruction. The southbound 31st Street entrance ramp is closed and the 35th Street exit ramp is closed. Northbound, the 35th Street entrance ramp is closed and the 31st Street exit ramp is closed. All four ramps will be closed until April 3, 2005. 1.68 miles of ramp reconstruction northbound from 31st to 39th Street and temporary shoulders from 31st to 47th Street, all located along I-94-90.

I-90, 94 at Western Avenue. The south shoulder of the reversible lanes will be closed between Logan Boulevard and Western Avenue. This closure is needed to relocate a vault access to this area.

73rd Street from Oak Park Avenue to Meade Avenue -- pavement widening, removal and replacement curb and gutter, storm sewers, pavement patching, and pavement marking. One lane in each direction open at all times.

57th Street over I-94-90 and ramps, all located along I-94-90 from 57th Street to 47th Street -- construction of retaining walls and bridge rehabilitation. 6.08 miles of reconstruction of frontage roads, construction of retaining walls, bridge rehabilitation of the existing structure carrying 57th Street over I-94-90 and ramps.

Clausen Avenue beneath the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad between Burlington and Hillgrove Avenue -- pedestrian underpass. Work should start in November.

East Avenue from 39th Street to 31st Street -- widening, resurfacing, sewer repair, traffic signal improvement. Daytime lane closure required. Daily lane closures during work hours. 0.95 miles of widening, resurfacing, combined sewer repair and traffic signal improvement.

Hillgrove Avenue from Gilbert Avenue to Kensington Avenue in LaGrange -- pavement reconstruction, sidewalk construction, drainage and lighting along 0.77 miles of Hillgrove.

I-94-90 Dan Ryan Expressway from 31st Street to I-57 interchange in Chicago -- jacking water main and utility adjustment. 1.88 miles of jacking water main and utility adjustment along 8.82 miles of I-94-90.

I-94-90 from 31st Street to 47th Street ramp -- reconstruction and temporary shoulders. The southbound 31st Street entrance ramp is closed and the 35th Street exit ramp is closed. Northbound, the 35th Street entrance ramp is closed and the 31st Street exit ramp is closed. All four ramps will be closed until April 3, 2005. 1.68 miles of ramp reconstruction northbound from 31st to 39th Street and temporary shoulders from 31st to 47th Street, all located along I-94-90.

I-94-90 Dan Ryan Expressway from 31st Street to 47th Street -- ramp reconstruction. Southbound 31st Street entrance ramp is closed and the 35th Street exit ramp is closed. Northbound, the 35th Street entrance ramp is closed and the 31st Street exit ramp is closed. All four ramps will be closed until April 3, 2005. 1.93 miles of reconstruction of the southbound ramps along I-94-90 Dan Ryan from 31st to 39th Street and temporary shoulders from 31st to 47th Street.

Oak Park Avenue from Illinois 38 to Illinois 64 -- resurfacing. Pavement resurfacing, removal and replacement of drainage system, curb and gutter, driveways, sidewalks, traffic signal modernization, and landscaping on Oak Park Avenue from Illinois 38, Roosevelt Road, Illinois 64, North Avenue.

St. Charles Road and Wolf Road from I-290 to Wolf Road and St. Charles Road to Proviso Drive -- pavement reconstruction. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction, using the south half of the road. Wolf Road is also down to one lane in each direction, with traffic using the west half of the road.

York Road bridge over East-West Tollway, Salt Creek to I-88 tollway ramp -- construction of bike path, pedestrian bridge and widening of bridge. 0.49 mile of construction and bridge widening.

Effingham County

I-70 Milepost 54 -- bridge replacement. Crossover with one lane open each direction.

Fayette County

I-70 Milepost 54 -- bridge replacement. Crossover with one lane open each direction.

Franklin County

Illinois 34 1.5 miles east of Thompsonville -- bridge replacement. One-lane bridge open, with traffic controlled by signals.

Grundy County

U.S. 6 between Morris and Channahon -- bridge repairs. One lane open, controlled by signals.

Hardin County

Illinois 146 on the west edge of Elizabethtown -- bridge replacement. One-lane bridge open, with traffic controlled by signals.

Jefferson County

I-57 and 64 Milepost 92 -- bridge replacement. Two narrow lanes open each direction.

Johnson County

U.S. 45 four miles south of Vienna -- bridge replacement. One lane open, with traffic controlled by signals.

Kankakee County

Illinois 102 three miles west of Bourbonnais -- bridge replacement. One-lane replacement, controlled by signals.

Kendall County

U.S. 34 through Plano -- one lane open in each direction.

Logan County

Illinois 136 one mile west of the Armington Spur -- bridge rehabilitation. One lane open, controlled by signals.

Livingston County

Illinois 23 two miles west of Cornell -- bridge replacement. One lane open, controlled by signals.

Madison County

Westbound I-270 will be reduced to two lanes at Milepost 8 for bridge rehabilitation. This work is expected to be completed by Nov. 30.

Airline Drive from one-half mile west of Illinois Route 111 to one-half mile east of Illinois Route 111 in Bethalto is closed. A detour route is signed to direct the traveling public.

Old Troy Road and Glen Crossing Road will be closed to all traffic at the intersection of Old Troy Road and Glen Crossing Road in Glen Carbon. Traffic will be detoured around this closure, using Illinois Route 162, Illinois Route 159 and Cottonwood Road. The closure is necessary to construct a bike trail box culvert under Old Troy Road. The work is expected to be completed by Dec. 1.

McDonough County

Illinois Route 61 south of Colmar over the LaMoine River -- bridge repairs. One lane open, controlled by signals.

McLean County

I-55 southbound at I-39 -- one lane open.

Morgan and Cass counties

Illinois 78 between Jacksonville and Virginia -- bridge replacement. One lane open, controlled by signals.

Peoria County

I-74 westbound Exit 93B on-ramp and exit ramp at Washington Street permanently closed for interstate reconstruction.

Pulaski County

Illinois 37 at Olmsted -- bridge replacement. One lane open, controlled by signals.

Saline County

Illinois 34 on the east edge of Rudement -- bridge replacement. One-lane bridge open, with traffic controlled by signals.

Sangamon County

Stevenson Drive over I-55 on the east side of Springfield -- bridge rehabilitation. One lane open for westbound and eastbound.

Tazewell County

I-74, westbound Exit 94 on-ramp at Riverfront Drive closed for pavement reconstruction.

Illinois Route 26 one-half mile north of Illinois 116 -- bridge replacement. One lane open, controlled by signals.

I-74, eastbound Exit 95 on-ramp from northbound Illinois Route 116 closed for interstate reconstruction.

Vermilion County

U.S. 136, Collett to National in Danville -- widening and construction. One lane open in each direction.

Illinois 1 over the Norfolk and Southern Railroad -- structure replacement, widening and resurfacing. One lane open northbound and two lanes southbound. Eastbound I-74 ramp Illinois 1 is closed.

Williamson County

I-57 southbound entrance ramp west of Johnston City Milepost 59. Southbound entrance ramp to I-57 closed due to bridge replacement.

A construction map and project information on Illinois highways can be found at www.dot.il.gov. Winter road condition information is also available on that site or by calling 1 [phone]. Illinois toll highway information can be found at www.illinoistollway.com.

[Illinois Department of Transportation news release]