Department of Transportation to suspend lane closures over Labor Day weekend to give motorists a break

ISP, Secretary of State Police and local police agencies announce Labor Day impaired driving crackdown          Send a link to a friend

[August 31, 2007]  SPRINGFIELD -- With thousands of people traveling over the upcoming holiday weekend, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced they will be suspending roadwork where possible to make for a smoother drive this Labor Day weekend. IDOT, Illinois State Police and Secretary of State Police also remind motorists they are teaming up with 350 local law enforcement agencies in a statewide impaired driving crackdown that began Aug. 17 and runs through the Labor Day holiday.

"Labor Day weekend is a busy time on the roadways since so many folks are traveling to see family and friends. We want to urge drivers as well as passengers to buckle up and drive sober when getting on the road," said Milt Sees, IDOT acting secretary. "We're opening as many lanes as possible, to keep drivers and workers safe and also to make travel as smooth as possible."

Also this holiday weekend is the statewide Labor Day "You Drink & Drive. You Lose" campaign, a combined $1.7 million enforcement and education effort to get drunk drivers off the road. The funds are used to pay for overtime for police agencies and for a media campaign. Statewide, Illinois State Police districts and the Secretary of State Police are teaming up with more than 350 police agencies to perform up to 425 roadside safety checks.

The Illinois partnership is part of a national campaign being coordinated with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The national crackdown combines the mobilization of thousands of law enforcement agencies in all 50 states, backed by a major media buy to raise awareness of the consequences of driving impaired.

In the greater Chicagoland area, all lanes on the Edens, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Stevenson expressways as well as interstates 80 and 57 will be open.

However, due to the nature of some projects, there will be construction zones throughout the state that will continue to operate. This work is not expected to affect traffic and will help keep projects on schedule. IDOT is urging motorists to slow down and drive with caution through these work zones. Holiday travelers are reminded that work zone speed limits are still in effect.

Motorists are advised to check www.illinoisroads.info for information regarding road conditions and updates on road construction. IDOT interstate road condition information is also available at 1-800-452-IDOT (4368).

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

Illinois Route 47 five miles north of U.S. 136 -- Road closure for bridge replacement. A marked route detour is in effect.

St. Joe Road (County Highway 12) -- Closed from two miles north of St. Joe to five miles north of St. Joe.

I-57 milepost 193 -- New interchange construction. No lane restrictions.

Route 133 near Oakland -- Bridge replacement. One-lane traffic with signals.

Illinois 7 from 143rd to 135th -- Bridge reconstruction in Orland Park. Road closed with posted detour.

Illinois 50 (Cicero Avenue) over the North Branch of the Chicago River -- Bridge replacement in Chicago. One lane of traffic will be open in each direction at all times.

Illinois 68 (Dundee Road) over U.S. 14 and Union Pacific Railroad -- Bridge replacement in Inverness and Palatine. One lane open in each direction.

Foster Avenue over I-94 -- Bridge repair in Chicago. Bridge is closed.

I-290 and Illinois 53 from Illinois 62 to Illinois 72 -- Bridge repair in Schaumburg. Two local lanes (lanes closest to the ramps) closed in each direction northbound and southbound.

Dan Ryan Expressway -- Reconstruction in Chicago. The construction configuration along the inbound and outbound Dan Ryan Expressway is set, with the local lanes completely closed for reconstruction from 71st to 31st. There are now three lanes open from 95th to 71st, four lanes open from 71st to 31st and back to three lanes on the elevated section from 31st to Roosevelt Road. The outbound and inbound elevated bridge is placed into its construction configuration.

Oak Park Avenue -- Widening and resurfacing in Oak Forest. Southbound Oak Park Avenue is closed (159th Street to Justamere Road).

LaPorte Road from Wolf Road to Anna Street -- Resurfacing, pavement reconstruction in Mokena. Westbound LaPorte Road is closed from Schoolhouse to Kirkstone.

Grand Avenue -- Roadway reconstruction in Franklin Park. One lane open in each direction.

Lively Boulevard from Pratt to Touhy -- Roadway reconstruction in Elk Grove Village. Northbound only open from Pratt to Touhy.

Illinois 38 one-half mile west of Illinois 23 -- Bridge replacement. One lane open in each direction.

Illinois Route 10 two-tenths mile west of U.S. 51 -- Road closure for bridge replacement. A marked state route detour is in effect.

U.S. Route 45 at Tuscola -- Road closure for bridge replacement. A marked state route detour is in effect.

Bloomingdale Road at Illinois 19 (Irving Park Road) -- Widening and reconstruction in Itasca. Illinois 19 reduced to one lane in each direction.

I-57 and 70 milepost 162 -- Overpass bridge work. No lane restrictions.

Route 33 from Effingham to Dietrich -- Bridge work. One-lane traffic with signals.

Illinois 1 two miles south of Gallatin County -- Temporary traffic signals. One-lane bridge controlled by temporary signals.

Illinois 34 2.1 miles south of Herod -- Temporary traffic signals. One-lane bridge controlled by temporary signals.

Illinois 34 and 146 1.5 miles east of Illinois Route 146 -- Temporary traffic signals. One-lane bridge controlled by temporary signals.

Illinois 15 approximately one mile west of Mount Vernon -- One-lane bridge construction with traffic controlled by temporary signals.

Illinois 15 two miles east of Mount Vernon -- One-lane bridge construction with traffic controlled by temporary signals.

Illinois 47 over I-88 (East-West Tollway) -- Bridge replacement in Blackberry Township. Illinois 47 reduced to one lane in each direction.

North Avenue (Illinois 64) at Randall Road -- Widening, resurfacing in Saint Charles. Two lanes open in each direction on North Avenue and Randall.

Orchard Road and Jericho Road -- Roadway reconstruction. One lane open in each direction.

Wilson Street bridge over the Fox River -- Bridge reconstruction in Batavia. One lane in each direction on north half of the bridge.

Illinois Street bridges over the Fox River -- Bridge reconstruction in Aurora. One 10-foot lane open in each direction. Truck detour posted.

Illinois 126 between Illinois 47 and Illinois 71 -- Closed. Detour posted

Half Day Road bridge over the Skokie River -- Bridge removal and replacement in Highland Park. One lane in each direction, controlled by temporary signals.

Illinois 22 to Beusching Road -- Patching in Lake Zurich. One lane will be maintained in each direction, with turn lanes at signalized intersections. Traffic is currently on newly built pavement in all directions. All lanes are expected to be open.

Illinois 120 at Hunt Club Road -- Reconstruction in Gurnee. One lane is closed in each direction along Route 120 at Hunt Club Road. Lane closure is accomplished by concrete barrier wall, arrow boards and barricades.

Butterfield Road from Hardin Avenue to Illinois 137 -- Reconstruction and widening in Libertyville. One lane open in each direction.

Buffalo Grove Road over Indian Creek -- Bridge reconstruction in Vernon Hills and Buffalo Grove. One lane in each direction. Possible weight restrictions.

Interstate 39 milepost 55 -- Deck replacement on the Abe Lincoln Bridge. One lane open each direction.

U.S. 6 one-half mile west of I-39 -- Bridge deck replacement. One lane open, controlled by signals.

U.S. 6 one mile west of I-39 -- Bridge removal. Road closed. Detour posted.

Illinois 71 at Starved Rock State Park -- Bridge replacement. Road closed. Detour posted.

Illinois 178 two miles south of U.S. 6 -- Bridge replacement. One lane open, controlled by signals.

Illinois 17 four miles east of Dwight -- Bridge deck replacement, One lane open, controlled by signals.

Illinois 23 three miles west of Cornell -- Bridge replacement. Road closed. Detour posted.

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Logan County:

Illinois 10 west of New Holland -- Staged construction for bridge. One-lane traffic controlled by temporary signals.

Illinois Route 48 at northwest edge of Decatur -- Bridge work. One-lane traffic each direction.

Illinois Route121 -- Resurfacing and bridge work. Possibly one-lane traffic with signals.

Illinois 4 six miles south of Illinois 108 -- Bridge replacement. One-lane traffic controlled by signals.

Old Illinois 4 2.7 miles north of Carlinville -- Box culvert replacement. Road closed. Illinois 4 is still open.

Illinois 143 east of Edwardsville -- Motorists will encounter staged construction with temporary traffic signals to maintain two-way traffic. This lane restriction is necessary to replace the existing bridge carrying Illinois 143 over Silver Creek approximately three miles west of Illinois 4. The project is expected to be completed by the end of June 2008.

U.S. 67 near Industry -- New bridge construction. One lane open, controlled by signals.

Illinois 9 and 41 north of Bushnell -- Box culvert replacement. One lane open, controlled by signals.

Illinois 23 over Kishwaukee River -- Bridge removal and replacement in Marengo. One lane in each direction.

Streit Road over the north branch of the Kishwaukee River -- Bridge replacement in Harvard. Bridge closed. Advance warning posted.

I-74 at mile marker 122 eastbound -- Carlock Weigh Station closed for pavement and weigh scales repairs.

U.S. 67 and Illinois 100 one-half mile north of Illinois 104 at Meredosia -- Staged construction for box culvert. One-lane traffic controlled by temporary signals.

Interstate 474 at Illinois Route 6 and I-74 interchange -- Bridge repair work. Eastbound and westbound reduced to two lanes.

U.S. 24 over Kickapoo Creek in Bartonville -- New bridge construction. Two lanes open in each direction.

U.S. 24 in Kingston Mines -- Roadway and bridge rehabilitation. Northbound and southbound reduced to one lane in each direction.

Illinois 71 -- New bridge construction. One lane open, controlled by signals

I-280 over the Mississippi River -- I-280 is reduced to one lane in each direction due to the containment enclosures set up for painting and sandblasting of the bridge.

Westbound I-55-70-64 ramp to southbound Tudor Avenue is closed for deck repairs. Motorists traveling westbound on I-55-70-64 and wanting to travel southbound to Tudor Avenue should follow the marked detour to Seventh Street in St. Louis, Mo. This ramp is scheduled to be completed and opened by Oct. 31.

Westbound I-55-70-64 ramp from Piggott Avenue onto westbound I-55-70-64 will be closed for deck repairs. Motorists wanting to travel onto westbound I-55-70-64 from Piggott Avenue should follow the marked detour to Fourth Street in East St. Louis. This ramp is scheduled to be completed and opened by Nov. 28.

Illinois Route 161 just west of Illinois Route 159 in Fairview Heights -- Motorists will encounter a lane shift and restriction. The project is scheduled to be completed by December.

Illinois Route 13 and 15 just east of Green Mount Road -- Motorists will encounter a lane shift and restriction. The project is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2008.

Illinois Route 158-177 just east of North Green Mount Road near Belleville -- Motorists will encounter staged construction with temporary traffic signals. This lane restriction is necessary to replace the existing structure carrying Illinois Route 158-177 over Loop Creek. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2007.

Illinois Route 156 east of Hecker -- Motorists will encounter staged construction with temporary traffic signals. This lane restriction is necessary to replace the existing structure carrying Illinois Route 156 over Richland Creek. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2007.

Illinois 13, Veterans Drive and Granger Street in Harrisburg -- Local city streets closed for construction.

Illinois 34 at north edge of Harrisburg at Small Street -- Temporary traffic signals. One-lane bridge controlled by temporary signals.

Illinois 34 1.7 miles north of Harrisburg -- Temporary traffic signals. One-lane bridge controlled by temporary signals.

Illinois 91 over Jack Creek north of Toulon -- Closed. Traffic is directed to a detour runaround.

U.S. 20 structure west of Eleroy -- Traffic is restricted to one lane and controlled by temporary traffic signals while two culverts are being removed.

Illinois Route 29 in North Pekin -- Bridge replacement. Northbound and southbound reduced to one lane in each direction.

Old U.S. 51 three miles south of Dongola -- Bridge construction. One lane with traffic controlled by temporary signals.

U.S. Route 136 (East Main Street) in Danville -- Road reconstruction work continues. One-lane traffic in each direction will be maintained.

U.S. Route 136 one mile north of Danville -- Road closure for bridge replacement. A marked detour is in effect.

U.S. Route 150 two-tenths mile south of Georgetown -- Bridge replacement. One-lane traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals.

Illinois Route 127 south of Posey -- Motorists will encounter staged construction with temporary traffic signals. This lane restriction is necessary to replace the existing bridge carrying Illinois Route 127 over a tributary to Crooked Creek.

U.S. 45 1.5 miles south of Mill Shoals -- Temporary traffic signals. One-lane bridge controlled by temporary signals.

U.S. 30 from Essington to Larkin -- Reconstruction at Crest Hill and Joliet. Two lanes in each direction, with a center turn lane.

159th Street (U.S. Route 6) under CN Railroad bridge -- Bridge reconstruction in Harvey. Narrow lanes on 159th under CN Railroad bridge.

I-55 from I-80 to Weber -- Bridge and interchange reconstruction in Troy Township. Lane shifts, narrow lanes, drop in speed limit to 55 mph at various work zone locations. Occasional nighttime lane closures.

I-55 in both northbound and southbound directions beginning at I-80 and continuing to Black Road -- Widening and resurfacing in Shorewood and Joliet. Lane shifts, narrow lanes, drop in speed limit to 55 mph at various work zone locations. Occasional nighttime lane closures.

I-55 west frontage road in Shorewood -- Reconstruction. Lane shifts and narrow lanes.

Illinois 2 at Clifton Avenue near the south edge of Rockford -- Route 2 is reduced to one lane in each direction as the four-lane roadway is being replaced, half at a time, for reconstruction of the intersection to widen the pavement and add turn lanes.

Illinois 75 bridge over Timothy Creek near Harrison -- Bridge deck replacement restricts traffic to one lane controlled by traffic signals.

Illinois 70 bridges south of the Pecatonica River, northwest of Rockford -- Three bridge deck replacements restrict structures to one lane controlled by temporary traffic signals.

[Text from Illinois Department of Transportation file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]

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