IDOT gives motorists a break for Christmas holiday

[December 22, 2008]  SPRINGFIELD -- As millions of Illinois residents prepare to hit the roadways to visit family and friends this holiday season, Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Milton R. Sees announced that the agency will be giving motorists a break by suspending lane closures where possible over the Christmas weekend. He also urged drivers to closely monitor weather reports before beginning any long-distance car trips and to check www.gettingaroundillinois.com for travel directions and the latest information on winter road conditions across the state. Information is also available by phone from a toll-free line.

"We want to do everything possible to ensure safe travel for the millions of motorists traveling to visit their loved ones," said Sees. "We hope the suspension of construction and opening lanes this holiday season will help prevent any mishaps on our roadways."

Work in construction zones around the state will be suspended for Christmas from 3 p.m. Wednesday through midnight Sunday.

Due to the nature of some projects, there will be construction zones throughout the state that will continue to have lane closures in effect. The Department of Transportation is urging motorists to slow down and drive with caution through these work zones. Travelers are reminded that work zone speed limits are still in effect.

According to AAA Chicago, more than 52.4 million Americans intend to travel by automobile (82 percent of all holiday travelers), a 1.2 percent decrease from the 53 million people who drove last year. In Illinois, nearly 2.5 million people will be traveling for the holidays. The majority, 1.9 million, will be traveling by motor vehicle, with 303,000 people flying.

Motorists are advised to check www.gettingaroundillinois.com for road condition reports and updates on road construction. Interstate road condition information is also available by calling 1-800-452-IDOT (4368).

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

District 1

Cook County

• Evanston
  Ridge Avenue from Clark Street to Howard Street -- Resurfacing. One lane is open in each direction.

• Glenview
  Illinois 21 from Willow Road to Sanders -- Reconstruction and bridge work. One lane open in each direction (will continue throughout the winter).

• Harvey
  159th Street from Lexington to Fisk -- Reconstruction. No effects on 159th. Park Avenue northbound will be one lane (second lane closed). Work will proceed on the railroad tracks.

• Niles
  Cumberland Avenue from Oakton Street to Church Street in Niles -- Reconstruction. Lane restrictions.

• Willow Springs
  Willow Springs Road over the Des Plaines River -- Bridge work. Job is suspended for winter. All lanes open to traffic.

• Wilmette
  Green Bay Road at Wilmette Avenue, Central and Lake Avenue -- Reconstruction. Lane restrictions.

• Wilmette
  Sheridan Road from 10th Street to Isabella Street -- Reconstruction. Southbound lanes are closed. Traffic was moved to the northbound lanes. One lane is open in each direction.

Kane County

• Batavia
  Illinois 31 over Mill Creek -- Bridge work. One lane in each direction.

• Elgin
  U.S. 20 (Lake Street) over the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Co. -- Bridge work and resurfacing. One lane open in each direction

Lake County

• Gurnee
  U.S. Route 41, Skokie highway over Illinois Route 132 -- Roadway, bridge and interchange reconstruction. Two lanes in each direction on U.S. Route 41 and Illinois 132, along with ramps, will remain open. No lane closures are expected.

• Lake Forest
  Illinois 60 over the Tri-State Tollway and from Riverwoods Road Boulevard to Saunders Road and Field Drive -- Bridge work, reconstruction and resurfacing. Two lanes eastbound and two lanes westbound with left turn lanes provided at signalized intersections.

• Lake Forest, Highland Park
  Old Elm Road over the Skokie River -- Bridge reconstruction. All lanes open. Punch-list work in spring.

• Waukegan
  Sheridan Road from Belvidere Road to Grand Avenue -- Reconstruction. All lanes open. Intermittent closures over the winter for electrical work.

• Waukegan, Gurnee
  Sunset Avenue from Delany Road to Illinois 131 -- Reconstruction. Job completed. All lanes open.

McHenry County

• Marengo
  Illinois 176 between Millstream Road and North Union Road -- Bridge reconstruction. Traffic signals have been removed and the roadway is open between Franklinville Road and McCue Road.

• Marengo
  Illinois 176 over the south branch of the Kishwaukee River -- Bridge reconstruction. Detour traffic is still in effect for bridge between Millstream and Union roads. Roadway may possibly be open by Christmas if weather permits work to be completed.

Will County

• Wilmington
  Arsenal Road -- Reconstruction. Closed from Indian Trail Road to Local 150 entrance. Detour posted.

District 2

Winnebago County

• Illinois 251 (Kishwaukee Street) in Rockford from Harrison Avenue to 15th Street -- Removal and replacement of the roadway pavement has restricted traffic to one lane in each direction until November of 2009.

District 3

All lanes open on all state roadways in District 3 during the holiday period.

District 4

Knox County

• U.S. Route 34 bypass bridge over U.S. 150 and Henderson Street in Galesburg -- Bridge reconstruction. One lane open in either direction.

Tazewell County

• Old Illinois 122 near Hopedale -- Road closed. Bridge repair.

Mercer County

• Illinois Route 17 east of Joy -- Bridge repair. One lane open, controlled by signals.

District 5

All lanes open to traffic on all state roadways in District 5 during the holiday period.

District 6

Montgomery County

• Illinois 127 one mile north of Donnelson -- Reconstruction of bridge restricts traffic to one lane controlled by temporary signals.

District 7

Lawrence County

• U.S. 50 west of Illinois 1 near Lawrenceville -- Bridge rehabilitation restricts traffic to one lane controlled by temporary traffic signals.

Wayne County

• U.S. 45 north and south of Cisne -- Bridge rehabilitations at three separate locations restricting traffic to one lane controlled by temporary traffic signals.

District 8

Madison County

• Riggin Road from Illinois 162 to Parkside Drive in Troy -- Riggin Road will be closed for reconstruction. Motorists should follow the marked detour using Illinois 162 to Laundry Street to Wickliffe Street to Riggin Road and vice versa. Riggin Road is expected to be opened by Dec. 31.

St. Clair County

• Illinois 13 and 15 from Freeburg to Greenmount Road -- 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 summer of 2009.

Washington County

• Illinois 160 near Addieville -- Road will be reduced to one lane to replace the structures carrying Illinois 160 over Plum Creek and a tributary to Plum Creek near Addieville. Two-way traffic will be maintained utilizing temporary traffic signals. The project will be completed by the end of August 2009.

District 9

Franklin County

• Illinois 34 3.2 miles east of Benton -- One-lane temporary bridge with traffic controlled by temporary signals.

Hamilton County

• Illinois 142 just north of Broughton -- Work on two bridges. One-lane bridge construction with traffic controlled by temporary signals.

Hardin County

• Illinois 1 two miles south of Gallatin County -- One-lane bridge construction with controlled by temporary signals.

• Illinois 1 four miles south of Gallatin County -- One-lane bridge construction with traffic controlled by temporary signals.

Jefferson County

• 42nd Street east of the new Veterans Drive interchange -- Roadway closed due to construction.

Saline County

• Illinois 34 at north city limit of Harrisburg -- One-lane bridge construction with traffic controlled by temporary signals.

Williamson County

• Illinois 37 just north of Johnson County line -- One-lane bridge construction with traffic controlled by temporary signals.

• Interstate 57 and Old 13, milepost 53 on I-57 -- One lane closed in each direction for median access.

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