Department of Transportation to suspend lane closures over July 4th weekend to give motorists a break

Illinois State Police and local agencies plan over 300 roadside safety checks and remind drivers: 'You Drink & Drive. You Lose'         

[June 28, 2007]  SPRINGFIELD -- With thousands of people traveling over the upcoming holiday weekend, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced they will be suspending roadwork wherever possible to make for a smoother drive this weekend. IDOT and Illinois State Police also want to remind folks to drive sober in the midst of the 2007 "You Drink & Drive. You Lose" campaign.

Restrictions will be in place from 3 p.m. Tuesday to midnight Wednesday.

"Fourth of July weekend is a great weekend to get together with loved ones, and we want to encourage everyone to plan for a safe holiday weekend by not drinking and driving," IDOT Acting Secretary Sees said. "We're opening as many lanes as possible, to keep drivers and workers safe and also to make travel as smooth as possible."

Holiday travelers are reminded that work zone speed limits will continue to be in effect in all construction zones. Motorists should continue to watch for changing traffic patterns and use caution, especially when workers are present. The minimum fine for speeding in a work zone is $375, whether there are workers present or not. Posted signs advise motorists of a $10,000 fine and 14-year jail sentence for hitting a roadway worker.

In addition this holiday weekend, IDOT and ISP are teaming up with more than 172 local police agencies in an aggressive effort to check for impaired drivers on the roads in Illinois. During the Fourth of July "You Drink & Drive. You Lose" enforcement campaign, motorists can expect more than 230 roadside safety checks and a number of saturation patrols statewide. The campaign runs through July 8.

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

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 proceed 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:

• U.S. 60 and 62 south of Cairo over the Mississippi River -- Bridge painting. One lane open with temporary signals in place.

• U.S. 6 two miles west of Hollowayville -- Bridge replacement. Road closed. Detour posted.

• Illinois 72 from Shannon to Illinois 26 -- The roadway is closed for replacement of six structures. Illinois 72 is detoured around the construction area on Illinois 26, Illinois 64 and Shannon Road.

• Illinois 48 northeast of Stonington -- Stage construction for box culvert installation. One-lane traffic, controlled by temporary signals.

• Route 45 north of Louisville -- One-fourth-mile detour for pavement replacement.

• Old U.S. Route 50 -- Closed at the Shoal Creek structure just east of the Breese city limits. A marked detour is in place using St. Rose Road, new U.S. Route 50 and Stolletown Road. This bridge project is scheduled to be completed and reopened to traffic by September.

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

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

• 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.

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

• Illinois 50 and 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 and Dundee Road over U.S. 14 and Union Pacific Railroad -- Bridge replacement in Inverness.

• Oakton Avenue over I-94 -- Bridge patching in Niles. One lane open in each direction.

• Oak Park Avenue -- Widening and resurfacing in Oak Forest. Southbound Oak Park Avenue 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 in each direction.

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

• Bloomingdale Road at Illinois 19 and 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.

• I-55 two miles south of Gardner -- Bridge painting. One lane open in each direction.

• Ashley Road over I-80 -- Bridge replacement. Road closed. Detour posted.

• 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.

• U.S. 45 1.5 miles north of Buckley -- Road closed. Detour posted.

• Illinois 15 approximately 1 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 and Illinois 64 at Randall Road -- Widening, resurfacing in St. Charles. Two lanes open in each direction on North Avenue and Randall.

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

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

• Illinois Avenue bridges over the Fox River
  -- Bridge construction in Aurora. One lane open in each direction. Truck detour posted.

• U.S. 45 and 52 two miles south of I-57 -- Bridge deck replacement. One lane open, controlled by signals.

• Illinois 114 three miles east of Momence -- Bridge replacement. One lane open, controlled by signals.

• Illinois 176 and Rockland Road over U.S. 41 and Skokie Highway -- Bridge replacement in Lake Bluff. There will be lane closure on Route 176, but one lane in each direction will remain open to traffic at all times.

• Illinois 22 and Half Day Road from Illinois 83 and Mundelein Road to U.S. 45 and 21 --Roadway reconstruction in Buffalo Grove, Long Grove and Lincolnshire. One lane in each direction, with turn lanes at intersections. Tight right-turn radius at Prairie Road and Main Street on Illinois 22. All of the project has been placed on new pavement of stage 1.

• Illinois 120 at Hunt Club Road -- Roadway reconstruction in Gurnee. The westbound lanes will be reduced from two to one lane. Temporary concrete barrier wall and temporary impact attenuator will be installed to enhance the safety of the motoring public and construction personnel at this location.

• Illinois 22 from Beusching to Quentin Road -- Roadway widening and reconstruction in Lake Zurich. One lane in each direction will be maintained, with turn lanes at signalized intersections. Traffic is currently on newly built pavement in all directions. All lanes are expected to be open by July 2.

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

• 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. Vernon Hills and Buffalo Grove. One lane in each direction. Possible weight restrictions.

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LaSalle County

• 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 and detour posted beginning July 5.

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

• Illinois 71 five miles west of Ottawa -- Bridge replacement. One lane open, controlled by signals.

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

• One lane will be closed both eastbound and westbound on I-70 west of the Illinois Route 4 interchange. This lane reduction is necessary to repair the bridge deck surface on the structure carrying I-70 over Wendell Branch Creek. The bridge work is part of a larger project that includes resurfacing I-70 from the I-55-70-270 interchange to west of Illinois Route 4. The entire project is expected to be completed by June 2008.

• Motorists will encounter staged construction with temporary traffic signals on Fruit Road east of Edwardsville. This lane restriction is necessary to replace the existing bridge surface carrying Fruit Road over I-55. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2007.

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

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

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

• I-474 at Illinois Route 6 and I-74 interchange -- Eastbound and westbound reduced to two lanes for bridge repair work.

• Illinois 146 one-fourth mile east of Illinois 145 -- One-lane bridge construction, with traffic controlled by temporary signals.

• Illinois 71 is closed 3.5 miles west of Illinois Route 89 for bridge replacement. Traffic is detoured to Illinois 26 south to Illinois 18 east to Illinois 89 and then north to Illinois 71 when traveling east, and to Illinois 89 south to Illinois 18 west to Illinois 26 north to Illinois 71 when traveling west.

• Motorists will encounter staged construction with temporary traffic signals along Illinois Route 154 approximately 3.5 miles west of Sparta. This lane restriction is necessary to replace the existing bridge beams on the structure carrying Route 154 over Plum Creek. The project is expected to be completed by the fall of 2007.

• Illinois 92 over Mill Creek four-tenths mile north of Andalusia Road -- Illinois 92 is restricted to one lane in each direction as the bridge decks are rehabbed, half at a time.

• Poppy Garden Road over I-80 east of Colona -- Poppy Garden Road is closed, as the bridge over I-80 has been removed for replacement with a new structure. Traffic is detoured on U.S. 6.

• 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.

• U.S. 45 in Eldorado at intersection with Illinois 142 -- Intersection reconstruction. No turn lanes available.

• Illinois 13 in Harrisburg, Veterans Drive and Granger Street -- 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 104 four miles west of Auburn -- Staged construction for box culvert construction. One-lane traffic, controlled by temporary signals.

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

• The 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.

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

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

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

• Motorists will encounter staged construction with temporary traffic signals along Illinois Route 156 east of Hecker. 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 the year.

• Motorists will encounter lane width restrictions along Illinois Route 159 just north of the Belleville square and south of Illinois Route 161 in Belleville. The work will be completed in three stages, and one lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction. Concrete barrier wall will be used to separate the northbound and southbound traffic across the existing bridge. These lane width restrictions are needed to replace the bridge deck, and work is to be completed by November.

• Illinois Route 29 in North Pekin -- Northbound and southbound reduced to one lane for bridge replacement.

• Illinois Route 98 -- Closed 3.5 miles east of Route 29 for bridge replacement. Traffic detoured to Illinois 29 to Illinois 9 to I-155 if traveling east, and I-155 to Illinois 9 to Illinois 29 when traveling west.

• Illinois 122 east of Minier -- Reduced to one lane for bridge replacement, controlled by signal.

• Motorists may encounter staged construction with temporary traffic signals along Illinois Route 15 approximately one mile east of Illinois Route 127. This lane restriction is necessary to replace the existing bridge beams on the structure carrying Illinois Route 15 over Nashville Creek. The project is expected to be completed this summer.

• Motorists may encounter staged construction with temporary traffic signals along Illinois Route 177 approximately one mile east of Hoyleton. This lane restriction is necessary to replace the existing bridge beams on the structure carrying Illinois Route 177 over Grand Point Creek. The project is expected to be completed this summer.

• Illinois 14 3.5 miles east of Crossville -- Temporary traffic signals. One-lane bridge, controlled by temporary signals.

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

• U.S. 30 bridge over the Mississippi River between Fulton, Ill., and Clinton, Iowa. Traffic is restricted to one lane and controlled by temporary traffic signals while the structure is being painted, half at a time. Motorists are encouraged to use the Illinois 136 bridge one mile to the north to avoid the delays at the U.S. 30 bridge.

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

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

• Illinois 2 at Clifton Avenue near the south edge of Rockford -- Illinois 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.

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

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