Most highway construction suspended
for Christmas and New Year's    

[DEC. xx, 2003]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Dec. 18 that highway construction work on state highways will be suspended, where possible, to give motorists a break during the Christmas and New Year's holiday weekends.

Work zone areas will be opened for normal traffic patterns during the afternoon of Wednesday, Dec. 24, and will remain open until midnight Sunday, Dec. 28.

These normal traffic patterns will also be in place beginning Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 31, and until midnight Sunday, Jan. 4.

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. Motorists are advised to check IDOT's traveler website, www.illinoisroads.info, for road construction information. Interstate road information is also available at 1 (800) 452 IDOT -- 1 [phone].

Projects across the state that will continue to have lane closures are:

Adams County

Illinois Route 104 over Fishhook Creek, three miles west of the Pike County line: bridge reconstruction. One-lane traffic controlled by signals.

Cook County

Dempster Street over North Shore Channel and at McCormick Boulevard: bridge replacement and lighting. One lane in each direction.

U.S. Route 30 from Interstate 394-Calumet Expressway to Sauk Trail: reconstruction, widening, intersection improvement, adding lanes. One lane open in each direction.

Ashland Avenue between Norfolk Southern Railroad crossing, north of 59th Street: lower roadway, reconstruct pavement. One lane open in each direction.

DuPage County

Illinois Route 64-North Avenue from Interstate 355 to Villa Road: adding lanes, signal timing, intersection improvements. Two lanes open in each direction.

U.S. Route 20 westbound (Lake Street) over Illinois Route 64 (North Avenue) and at Railroad Avenue: bridge rehabilitation, retaining wall and intersection reconstruction. Lake Street is closed and detour posted.

Franklin County

Illinois Route 34 east of Thompsonville: bridge replacement. One-lane detour, with traffic controlled by signals.

Gallatin County

Illinois Route 13 over Market Street in Old Shawneetown: bridge replacement. One lane open, with traffic controlled by signals.

Hardin County

Illinois Route 34 near Herod, 2.1 and six miles south: bridge repair. One lane open, with traffic controlled by signals.

Jackson County

Illinois Route 4 one mile north of Oraville: bridge replacement. One-lane detour open, with traffic controlled by signals.

Kane County

Illinois Route 25 over Chicago and Eastern Railroad, Batavia, and between Wilson Street and Illinois Route 56: bridge replacement. One-lane road controlled by temporary traffic signals.

Illinois Route 72 from Illinois Route 68 to Illinois Route 25: pavement reconstruction. One lane open in each direction.

[to top of second column in this article]

Lake County

Illinois Route 21 (Milwaukee Avenue) Washington Street to south of Illinois Route 120 and over Interstate 94: adding lanes, bridge reconstruction. One lane in each direction. The ramps at Illinois Route 21 and Illinois Route 120 are closed. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction from Washington Street to south of Illinois Route 120.

Madison County

Illinois Route 140 west of Illinois Route 111 in Bethalto: pavement removal and replacement. One lane open each direction and one bidirectional lane open.

Illinois Route 160 over Buckeye Branch, approximately 3.1 miles south of Highland. One-lane, two-way traffic maintained by traffic signals.

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.

Illinois Route 160 (Poplar Street) will be closed to through traffic one block south of the intersection with U.S. Route 40 in Highland. A detour route is signed to direct the traveling public.

McHenry County

Illinois Route 120 from Martin Road to Illinois Route 31: pavement reconstruction and surface maintenance. One lane open in each direction, with middle turn lanes.

Pope County

Illinois Route 147, at Robbs: bridge replacement. One lane open, with traffic controlled by signals.

Will County

U.S. Route 6 from the Illinois and Michigan Canal to the I-55 Expressway: complete reconstruction. One lane open in each direction, with turn lanes open at Tryon Street, Reed Street, Bluff Road and Roberts Avenue.

Illinois Route 394 from Elmscourt Road to Bernes Road: box culvert replacement on northbound lanes. One lane in each direction.

Celebrate safely, Illinois!

The holidays are a time for celebration and gathering together with family and friends.

At the same time, tragically, it is during the holiday and winter season that accidents and fatalities most often occur on Illinois roadways. As we enter this festive season, the Illinois Department of Transportation urges you to please remember to celebrate safely.

For your safety and the safety of your loved ones:

• Remember to always buckle up -- it's the law!
• Drive sober. Before the celebration begins, choose a designated driver.
• Slow down to avoid accidents and arrive safely to your destination.
• Pack a survival kit in your car, with a blanket, hat and gloves, a shovel, flashlight with batteries, and a reflector or brightly colored cloth to use as a flag.

• Prepare your car for winter weather, inspect your wiper blades and top off all your fluids.

Drive safely -- arrive safely.

Have a safe and joyous holiday season.

[Illinois Department of Transportation news release]