IDOT to reduce road and lane closures over Thanksgiving weekend

[November 21, 2009]  SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig announced Friday that IDOT is giving motorists a break by suspending lane closures where possible over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

"Because we know so many Illinoisans are planning to travel during the holiday weekend, we're doing everything we can to keep the roads open and delay-free," Hannig said. "We hope suspending construction and opening lanes this Thanksgiving holiday will increase the chances of motorists getting to their destinations safely."

Hannig also urged drivers to closely monitor weather reports before beginning any long-distance car trips and to check IDOT's www.gettingaroundillinois.com site 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.

Work in as many construction zones as possible around the state will be suspended for the Thanksgiving holiday from 3 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 26, through midnight, Sunday, Nov. 29.

Due to the nature of some projects, there will be construction zones throughout the state that will continue to have lane closures in effect. IDOT is reminding motorists to obey the law and slow down while driving through work zones. Holiday travelers are reminded that work zone speed limits are still in effect.

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

COOK COUNTY

• Barrington Hills -- Illinois 68 between Healy Road. Culvert replacement. Traffic reduced to one lane with traffic signals.

• Calumet Park and Chicago -- Interstate 57 at 103rd, 112th, 115th (Chicago) and 125th (Calumet Park). Bridge reconstruction, shoulder closures on I-57 and staged construction on bridges.

• Chicago -- 26th Street and I-55 Frontage Road over the Franklin Connector. Bridge construction. 31st Street closed with detour posted.

• Chicago -- I-90 at Central. Bridge construction. Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction.

• Chicago -- 31st Street from Cicero Avenue to Kostner Avenue. Resurfacing and bridge construction. One lane open in each direction.

• Chicago -- I-90-94 from Hubbard's Cave to I-290. Reconstruction. Simultaneous closing and reconstruction of Jackson Boulevard ramp, Adams Street ramp and Monroe ramp on the eastbound side of the Kennedy Expressway. The Monroe exit ramp on the westbound side will permanently close at this time. Traffic to the Loop will be detoured to Madison Street and other adjacent open ramps within this corridor.

• Glenview -- Illinois 21 from Willow Road to Sanders. Reconstruction and bridge work. Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction.

• Glenwood -- Main Street between North Main and State Street. Reconstruction. Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction.

• Harvey -- 159th Street from Lexington to Fisk. Reconstruction. 159th Street closed between Park Avenue and Illinois Route 1 (Halsted Street). Traffic detour using Dixie Highway, Sibley Boulevard and Illinois 1 (Halsted).

• Harvey/Markham -- 159th Street from Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to Illinois Route 1 (Halsted Street). Reconstruction. Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction.

• Niles -- Illinois Route 21 (Milwaukee Avenue) from Albion Avenue to Neva Avenue and on Milwaukee Avenue from Harts Road to Neva Avenue in village of Niles. Widening, resurfacing and landscaping. Permanent lane closures. One lane open in each direction.

DuPAGE COUNTY

• Downers Grove -- Prairie Avenue from Forest Avenue to Fairview Avenue. Reconstruction. Westbound traffic only; eastbound lanes closed with detour posted.

• Itasca -- Thorndale Avenue over Salt Creek. Bridge work. Traffic reduced to one lane open in each direction.

• Naperville -- 75th Street and Washington Street. Reconstruction and bridge work. Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction.

• Westmont -- Blackhawk Drive from U.S. 34 to Chicago. Reconstruction. Traffic open to local traffic only. Detour posted.

KANE COUNTY

• Aurora -- Wood Street over the Burlington National Railroad. Reconstruction and bridge work. One lane open in each direction.

LAKE COUNTY

• Lincolnshire -- U.S. 45-Illinois 21 at Illinois 22. Reconstruction. One lane open in each direction on U.S. 45, with left turn lanes at intersection.

• Libertyville-Grayslake -- U.S. 45 from Illinois 137 to Illinois 120. Reconstruction and widening. One lane open in each direction on U.S. 45, with left turn lanes at intersections.

• Gurnee -- U.S. 41 from Skokie Highway over Illinois 132 roadway. Bridge and interchange reconstruction. One lane open in each direction on U.S. 41 over Illinois 132 and on Illinois 132 under U.S. 41.

McHENRY COUNTY

• Marengo -- Illinois 23 over Kishwaukee River. Bridge construction. Illinois 23 closed to any through traffic from Illinois 13 in Harvard to Illinois 176. Detour posted.

WILL COUNTY

• Monee -- I-57 Manhattan-Monee Road entrance and exit ramps. Reconstruction. No lane closures on I-57 north and south. Right and left shoulders will be closed, and lanes are reduced on Manhattan-Monee Road and northbound I-57 at Manhattan Road and on southbound exit to Manhattan-Monee Road.

JO DAVIESS COUNTY

• Stockton -- Illinois 78. Replacement of a large culvert just north of the Carroll County line. Traffic reduced to one lane controlled by temporary traffic signals.

ROCK ISLAND COUNTY

• Rapids City -- I-80 over the Mississippi River. Emergency repairs for outside lanes of the bridge. One lane open in each direction.

• Andalusia -- Illinois 92. Replacement of a large culvert near 120th Street. Traffic reduced to one lane controlled by temporary traffic signals.

KNOX COUNTY

• Galesburg -- U.S. 34 over I-74. Bridge replacement. Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction. 

FULTON COUNTY

• London Mills -- Illinois 116. Box culvert replacement. Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction, controlled by temporary traffic signals.

PEORIA COUNTY

• Laura -- Illinois 78. Pavement replacement. Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction, controlled by temporary traffic signals.

• Mossville -- Illinois 29. Bridge replacement. Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction, controlled by temporary traffic signals.

• Peoria -- Airport Road at Illinois 116. Bridge and pavement replacement. Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction.

TAZEWELL COUNTY

• Peoria/Sunnyland -- Illinois Route 8. Construction. Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction.

McLEAN COUNTY

• Bloomington -- I-74, one mile east of U.S. 51. Bridge rehabilitation. Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction, with barrier wall in place.

• Bloomington -- U.S. 150, three miles north of Illinois 9. Bridge joint repair. Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction, with barrier wall in place.

• Bloomington -- I-74, eight miles east of U.S. 51. Bridge replacement. Westbound traffic restricted to one lane with barrier wall in place.

• Bloomington -- I-74, north I-55 to east of U.S. 51 at Bloomington. Bridge repair. Traffic restricted to one lane in each direction, with barrier wall in place.

• Bloomington -- I-55, one mile east of U.S. 51. Bridge rehabilitation. Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction, with barrier wall in place.

DOUGLAS COUNTY

• Tuscola -- U.S. 36, two miles east of I-57. Bridge replacement. Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction, with barrier wall in place.

MACOUPIN COUNTY

• Carlinville -- Illinois 108 over Macoupin Creek. Bridge reconstruction. Traffic reduced to one lane controlled by temporary traffic signals.

SANGAMON COUNTY

• Springfield -- I-55 at Sixth Street interchange. Bridge reconstruction. Traffic reduced to one lane.

HAMILTON COUNTY

• Broughton -- Illinois 142. Bridge construction. Traffic reduced to one lane controlled by temporary traffic signals.

• Wayne City -- Illinois 242. Bridge construction. Traffic reduced to one lane controlled by temporary traffic signals.

HARDIN COUNTY

• Rosiclare -- Illinois 34-146. Bridge construction. Traffic reduced to one lane controlled by temporary traffic signals.

JACKSON COUNTY

• Carbondale -- Illinois 13 (Main Street). Lane restriction. Traffic reduced from three lanes to two lanes for culvert construction.

• Carbondale -- Illinois 13 (Main Street) westbound. Lane restriction. Traffic reduced from two lanes to one lane for bridge rehabilitation.

SALINE COUNTY

• Harrisburg -- Illinois 34. Bridge construction. Traffic reduced to one lane controlled by temporary traffic signals.

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