IDOT gives holiday travelers a break, suspends road projects for Easter weekend           

[MARCH 23, 2005]  CHICAGO -- The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that highway construction work will be suspended, where possible, on interstate highways and state highways to give motorists a break during the heavily traveled Easter holiday weekend.

Work zone areas will be opened for normal traffic patterns to the extent possible from 3 p.m. Friday until midnight Sunday.

However, a number of work zones will continue to have lane closures. Motorists are advised to slow down and be alert in those work zones and are reminded that work zone speed limits are still in effect.

For more information about ongoing construction projects, motorists can check www.illinoisroads.info. Interstate road information is also available at 1 (800) 452 IDOT [4368].

The following Chicago-area expressways and state roads will have closures and lane restrictions:

I-80, I-94, U.S. 6, Kingery Expressway, west of Illinois 83-Torrence Avenue to east of Burnham Avenue and over the Railroad Avenue Bridge, and over Burnham Avenue Bridge -- construction of outside lanes on bridges.

I-80, I-94, U.S. 6, Kingery Expressway at Torrence Avenue and side streets -- bridge replacement and frontage road repairs. Torrence Avenue has been reduced to one lane in each direction. Traffic will still be able to enter and exit the expressway by using temporary ramps at Torrence Avenue

I-94 Bishop Ford Expressway between I-80, I-94 and 15th Street -- reduced to two lanes in each direction.

Illinois 394 between I-80, I-94 and Thornton-Lansing Road -- reduced to one lane in each direction.

Illinois 394 to westbound I-80, I-294, Tri-State Tollway -- ramp closed and a detour posted to route traffic to 159th Street, with its return on the outbound Bishop Ford back to the Tri-State.

U.S. 6, U.S. 52, McDonough Street over the Des Plaines River -- bridge deck repairs. The bridge and roadway are closed to traffic for the duration of the project. Detour signs are posted for alternate routes.

I-94, I-90 Dan Ryan Expressway from 31st Street to 47th Street -- ramp reconstruction and temporary shoulders. Southbound, the 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.

U.S. 12-45, Mannheim Road, over I-190, and I-190 westbound under Mannheim Road and along I-190 at U.S. 12-45 -- bridge replacement, road and ramp reconstruction.

I-57 under 119th Street -- construction of new bridge deck. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction.

Projects across the state that will have closures are in the following locations:

Bureau County

Illinois Route 26 bridge 4.5 miles south of Illinois 92 near Kasbeer -- bridge replacement. Traffic restricted to one lane, controlled by traffic signals.

Champaign County

Illinois Route 49 two miles north of Homer -- bridge replacement. Road closed. Detour via marked state routes.

Effingham County

I-57, I-70 Milepost 158 -- bridge replacement. Two lanes shifted, open in each direction.

Fayette County

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

Hardin County

Illinois 146 at west edge of Elizabethtown -- bridge replacement. One-lane bridge open, controlled by signals.

Jefferson County

I-57, I-64 Milepost 94 -- bridge replacement. Two lanes shifted, open each direction.

Illinois Route 37 in Mount Vernon -- box culvert construction. One lane open, with traffic signals.

Johnson County

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

I-24 westbound, mileposts 19.5-20.5 -- bridge rehab. Passing lane closed.

I-24 eastbound, mileposts 19.5-20.5 -- bridge rehab. Passing lane closed.

Kankakee County

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

Kendall County

U.S. 34 through Plano -- one lane open each direction. Work zone speed limit 35 mph west of Ben Street and 30 mph east of Ben Street.

LaSalle County

I-39 over the Illinois River, mileposts 55-56 -- bridge deck patching on Abraham Lincoln Bridge. One lane open in each direction.

Livingston County

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

Madison County

Eastbound I-270 will be reduced to two lanes at Milepost 8 and one lane at Milepost 11 for bridge rehabilitation.

Cougar Drive will be closed from Center Grove Road to just south of Kettle River Drive. A detour route is signed to direct the traveling public.

Main Street over I-270 in Glen Carbon will be reduced to one lane with temporary traffic signals for bridge rehabilitation.

Old Troy Road will be closed just east of the intersection with Cottonwood Road and Old Troy Road in Glen Carbon to construct a bike trail tunnel under Old Troy Road. A detour route is signed to direct the traveling public.

McLean County

I-55, I-74, around Bloomington from Illinois 9 to I-39 -- two lanes open each direction. All ramps open, narrow lanes and changing lane configurations.

Peoria County

I-74 westbound lanes from Milepost 87 to Milepost 89 -- interstate reconstruction. Inside lane closed. One lane open.

Putnam County

Illinois Route 18 near Illinois Route 89 -- bridge replacement. One lane open, controlled by signals.

Rock Island County

U.S. 150 at the west edge of Coal Valley -- County Home Road (West Third Street) closed south of U.S. 150 for removal and replacement of pavement.

Saline County

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

St. Clair County

Motorists will encounter lane restrictions, with barrier wall used for stage construction on the structure carrying I-255 over Prairie DuPont Diversion Channel. Two lanes will remain open at all times in each direction.

Tazewell County

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

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

East Washington Street on-ramp onto Riverfront Drive in East Peoria -- restricted to 10-foot widths for bridge reconstruction.

Union County

Illinois 3 four miles south of Ware -- bridge replacement. One lane bridge open, with traffic controlled by signals.

Williamson County

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

[Illinois Department of Transportation news release]