IDOT Suspends Non-Emergency Roadwork to Improve Traffic Flow during Holiday Season
Agency Details Lane Closures to Aid Motorists’ Travel Plans
SPRINGFIELD, IL – With thousands of motorists expected to travel on Illinois roadways during Christmas and New Year’s, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced today that non-emergency roadwork will be suspended where possible to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow. IDOT also provided advance notice of lane closures that will be in place during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday periods to aid motorists’ travel plans and boost safety.
“Families traveling throughout Illinois for the holidays will experience an easier commute now that all non-emergency roadwork will be suspended,†said Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider. “Continuing with our commitment for improved safety on our roadways, we have provided a list of road closures on our website, with a breakdown by county, to assist motorists as they travel during the holiday season.â€
Starting at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24, IDOT will suspend all non-emergency roadwork for the Christmas holiday and open up all lanes where possible through midnight Wednesday, Dec. 25.
Then, starting at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, IDOT will suspend all non-emergency roadwork for the New Year’s holiday and open up all lanes where possible through midnight Wednesday, Jan. 1.
Some construction zones will have lane closures in effect, depending on the projects.
IDOT is urging motorists to slow down, obey posted speed limits and drive with caution through work zones. Holiday travelers are reminded that work zone speed limits are still in effect wherever they are posted, even where no construction workers are present.
The following are locations where permanent lane closures remain in place:
IDOT Highway District 1:
COOK COUNTY
Cumberland Avenue over I-90; traffic reduced to 2 lanes in each direction.
Il 58 at New Wilke Road in Rolling Meadows has one lane open in each direction with a left turn lanes at signalized intersections.
Willow Road from IL 43 (Waukegan Road) to I-94, there will be one lane in each direction open to through traffic. This includes the traffic on IL 43 (Waukegan Road) at Willow Road.
Central Ave and I-55 one lane in each direction on Central. Exit Ramp from NB I-55 to Central and Entrance Ramp to SB I-55 are CLOSED. Expect delays.
Morgan St. closed between Van Buren St. and Harrison St. (bridge over I-290).
IL 83 from Kedzie to Western/Dixie Highway, going east & westbound, one lane open in each direction; and Western to Kedzie going north & southbound, one lane open in each direction. (Posen, IL)
I-94 (Bishop Ford Freeway) at Stony Island, ramp from northbound Stony Island & 103rd St. to WB I-94 and SB I-57 closed. Please follow posted detour.
Bridge rehabilitation and ramp construction on I-94/90 (Kennedy Expressway) at Ohio Street located at the Ohio Street Interchange in Cook County. Ramp partially closed with barricades on one side – enter with caution.
DUPAGE COUNTY
IL 53 – Roadway reconstruction from Army Trail Rd to Elgin O’Hare Expressway in Addison & Itasca. One lane open in each direction for NB & SB Rte 53 at the Lake St. intersection. Lake St with two lanes open in each direction. Outside of the Lake St. intersection all lanes open.
IL route 38 has permanent closures leaving one lane open in each direction from Kirk Road to east of Kress Road in Geneva and West Chicago. (Kane and DuPage Counties)
IL 59, between Diehl Road and North Aurora Road will be stage one for the winter – two lanes will be open in each direction utilizing the median as one lane.
KANE COUNTY
US 20 over McLean Blvd – traffic change on Interchange reconstruction in Elgin; two lanes open in each direction.
Maple Avenue from Washington St. to L.W. Besinger Drive will have one lane open eastbound only.
LAKE COUNTY
IL 21 from south of IL 120 to south of IL 137; one lane of traffic in each direction on IL 21 and one lane of traffic in each direction on IL 137 at the intersection with IL 21.
Permanent closures on I-94 from IL 173 to the Wisconsin State Line; three lanes will be open throughout the whole project. The IL 173 Bridge over I-94 will be reduced to one lane in each direction for the entire project.
IL Rte 131 (Green Bay Road) & Wadsworth Road is in stage 1 detour configuration, with one lane open in each direction.
Grass Lake Road, about one mile west of US Rte 45 is in stage 1 detour configuration with one lane open in each direction.
Rollings Road, about ½ mile west of US Rte 45 is in stage 1 detour configuration, with one lane open in each direction.
McHENRY COUNTY
IL 31 at IL 176 and at Terra Cotta Ave. in Crystal Lake, Nunde Township and unincorporated McHenry County, one lane open in each direction.
Algonquin Bypass project, IL 31 from south Junction to north junction has 1 lane open in each direction.
Weber Road at Renwick Road – one lane open in each direction.
US-52/US 6 (Jefferson St.) bridge over the Des Plaines River in Joliet. Detour posted.
IDOT Highway District 2:
N/A
IDOT Highway District 3:
DeKalb County
US 30, just east of Shabonna, one lane closed for bridge repairs, traffic controlled by signals.
IDOT Highway District 4:
FULTON COUNTY
IL 116 is reduced to one lane traffic that is controlled by temporary signals approximately two miles east of the IL 97 & IL 116 junction.
TAZEWELL COUNTY
Near Morton, I-74 will be two lanes eastbound and westbound from Pleasant Hill through Morton Ave. The eastbound I-74 ramp to southbound I-155 will be reduced to one lane. Eastbound I-474 is reduced to one lane as it merges to eastbound I-74. Northbound I-155 to westbound I -74 is a merge condition.
IDOT Highway District 5:
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
Champaign County Highway 50 (Lake of the Woods Road) over I-74. County Highway 50 is closed and a marked detour is being utilized.
IDOT Highway District 6:
N/A
IDOT Highway District 7:
RICHLAND COUNTY
Illinois Route 130 near Parkersburg; bridge rehabilitation; stage construction with one lane open, concrete barriers and traffic signals in place.
IDOT Highway District 8:
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
The right lane of southbound IL 203 will be closed to allow construction associated with the New Mississippi River Bridge.
Both northbound and southbound I-255 over I-64 will be reduced to two lanes in each direction for bridge rehabilitation.
IL 15/IL158, Belleville, the westbound on-ramp from IL 158 onto IL 15 will be closed. Closure needed for roundabout construction.
IL 15/IL158, Belleville, the westbound IL 15 exit ramp onto IL 158 will be closed. Closure needed for roundabout construction.
IL 13 west of IL 158 will be as follows:
· WB IL 13 west of IL 158 will be open to all traffic.
· EB IL 13 west of IL 158 will restricted to right-turn only and only vehicles less than 40 ft. long.
IL 13 under IL 15 near Belleville will be closed. Closure needed to construct new structures.
The IL 15 bridges over IL 13 near Belleville will have one lane closed in each direction of bridges. This lane restriction is needed to construct the new Eastbound IL 15 structure.
IL 15, Fayetteville, bridge over Kaskaskia River is reduced to one lane of traffic through the summer of 2014. This restriction is needed to perform bridge repairs.
IDOT Highway District 9:
JACKSON
IL 13, east edge of Murphysboro. Lane closures/shift with median crossover for bridge replacement.
FRANKLIN
IL 37, one mile north of IL 149 West. One lane bridge work, temporary signals in place.
MASSAC
I-24 – Ohio River Bridge. One lane traffic eastbound and westbound across bridge for joint repairs.
WHITE
IL 1, 2 miles north of Carmi. One lane bridge construction with temporary signals in place.
