IDOT Giving Motorists a Break during Labor Day Weekend

SPRINGFIELD—Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Timothy W. Martin announced today the Department will be suspending construction and opening lanes where possible during the Labor Day holiday, to ease the flow of traffic and congestion during the long travel weekend. Secretary Martin also reminded motorists IDOT is working with the Illinois State Police (ISP), local agencies and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) on the most aggressive Labor Day campaign ever, targeting impaired drivers throughout the state of Illinois.  

"Labor Day weekend is a time for families to get together and enjoy the last holiday weekend of the summer, so we want to give our construction workers a break, but also we want to open as many lanes of traffic as possible to make for a smooth commute during this busy travel holiday," IDOT Secretary Martin said.  "Unfortunately, last year Labor Day was our deadliest holiday, averaging more than 5 deaths per day on our roads. We'll have 1,600 special patrols during our Labor Day mobilization, where police will be placing special emphasis on getting impaired drivers off the road."

IDOT is in the middle of a 17-day Labor Day enforcement and education campaign, joining together with MADD, ISP and local law enforcement, targeting impaired driving. Statewide, 250 agencies will be teaming up to conduct more than 220 roadside safety checks and nearly 1,400 saturation patrols.

"Holidays are a time when people get caught up in the festivities and make bad decisions," said Susan McKinney, Executive Director or MADD Illinois. "That's why MADD is joining forces with America's law enforcement and highway safety officials to send a clear message to drivers: If you drive drunk this Labor Day, you will be arrested. No exceptions. No excuses."

Various construction zones will be open for Labor Day weekend from 3:00 pm, Friday, September 1, through Midnight, Monday, September 4.  However, due to the nature of some projects, there will be construction zones throughout the state that will continue to operate.  IDOT is urging motorists to slow down and drive with caution through these work zones.  Holiday travelers are reminded that work zone speed limits are still in effect.

Motorists are advised to check IDOT's website www.illinoisroads.info for information regarding road conditions and updates on road construction.  Interstate road condition information is also available at 1-800-452-IDOT (4368).

In the greater Chicagoland area, all lanes on the Edens, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Stevenson, Dan Ryan, and Bishop Ford expressways, as well as I-80 and I-57 will be open wherever possible.

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

Bureau County:
Interstate 80, MP 56 to 61, Median work, one lane open. Backbone Road over Interstate 80, ROAD CLOSED.

New Bedford Road, ½ mile west of Illinois 40, Bridge replacement, ROAD CLOSED.

Clay County:
US Rt. 45, north of Louisville, 1 lane open for bridgework

Cook County:
Bishop Ford: In South Holland-2 lanes each direction from 159th to I-80.  Ramp from SB Ford to EB Kingery reduced to 1 lane. Ramp SB Ford (EB I-94) to WB I-80/NB I-294 (TriState Tollway) closed with detour posted.

IL-394: reconstruction in Thornton-Lansing-1 lane in each direction between Glenwood-Lansing Rd. and I-80.   Ramp from WB I-80 to SB IL-394 will be closed with detour posted.

Kingery-Reconstruction in Lansing/Thornton/South Holland/Hammond/Munster-3 lanes in each direction with some narrow lanes and lane shifts from US 41 (Calumet Ave.) in Indiana to I-94.  Two lanes in each direction from I-94 to I-80/294 (Tri-State Tollway).  Ramp from EB I-80/SB I-294 to WB I-94 (Bishop Ford) closed w/detour posted.  EB I-80/94 to SB US-41 (Calumet Ave.) closed with detour posted.  Ramp from WB I-80 to SB IL-394 will be closed with detour posted.

Dan Ryan Expressway: Reconstruction in Chicago- One express lane in each direction is open during the next two weeks.  Three lanes open in both directions from 99th St. to 12th St. From 71st to 95th the outside lane will be closed in both directions.  NB & SB express lanes closed from 69th to 31st St. with local lanes open to traffic.  Left lane closures on State from 71st to 95th and on Lafayette from 75th to 95th and on 98th Place from Eggleston to Parnell.  76th Street bridge will be closed.   Root St. bridge will be closed.

Dan Ryan Expressway: Patching in Chicago-began Monday, July 3.  Westbound direction on 87th St. from Western to Kedzie (Lane One).  One lane open in westbound direction.

Dan Ryan Expressway: Reconstruction in Chicago-SB 59th exit and NB 59th entrance ramps are permanently closed.  SB & NB 51st St. exit and entrance ramps are permanently closed.  Full closure of SB Roosevelt entrance ramp at Union Ave.  Full closure of NB I-55 to WB I-90/94 entrance ramp.  Full closure of NB 63rd Street entrance ramp.  Full closure of NB 95th Street entrance ramp.  Full closure of NB 87th Street exit ramp.  Full closure of NB 87th Street entrance ramp.  Full closure of NB 79th Street entrance ramp and NB 76th Street exit ramp. Full closure of SB 95th exit ramp. Full closure of SB 87th entrance ramp.  Full closure of SB 76th Street entrance ramp and SB 79th Street exit ramp.  Full closure of 76th Street Bridge.  WB right lane of the 67th St. bridge over the Dan Ryan is closed.  There will be access to temporary ramps.

Skyway Interchange/ Dan Ryan from 67th to Wentworth Ave: Reconstruction in Chicago: All local lanes open. Temporary daily lane closures for punch list work. Work will continue on State St under the Skyway EB and WB ramp bridges at 66th st.

Maple Avenue/Chicago Ave. from Cumnor Rd. to IL 83: Reconstruction in Clarendon Hills, Westmont- EB traffic closed for the duration of project.  WB traffic only. EB traffic follows a posted detour route.

IL 56 (Butterfield Rd.) from US 12/20/45 to St. Charles Rd. Widening & Resurfacing in Bellwood- One lane in each direction.    

US 20 (Lake St.) from IL 53 to Addison Rd: reconstruction in Addison- One lane in each direction.

Grand Ave. Relocation of 2 IHB Railroad tracks, 1000 ft east to share the right-of-way with CN and cross Grand Ave. at a single location on a new 3 track bridge over a new depressed roadway in Franklin Park- One lane in each direction.  Detour posted.

McCormick from Emerson St. to Green Bay Road:  Roadway Reconstruction in Evanston- One lane in each direction

Walnut Lane from Schaumburg Rd. to Bode Rd: Reconstruction in Schaumburg-One lane in each direction.

Nagle Ave. over I-90: Bridge Reconstruction in Chicago: One lane in each direction

Devon Ave at Tonne Rd and Wood Dale Rd: widening, resurfacing in Elk Grove Village- Two lanes each direction with turn lanes at the intersection of Devon Ave and Wooddale/Tonne Roads.

Southwest Highway from 135th to 143rd streets:  Reconstruction in Orland Park: Road is closed.

Crawford County:
IL 33, south of Palestine, 1 lane open for bridgework

Effingham County:
I-57 Southbound, north of Effingham MP 165, 1 lane open for bridgework

Fayette County:
US Rt. 51, south of Vandalia, 1 Lane open for bridgework

Fulton County:
US Route 24 near Duncan Mills, New Bridge Construction, one lane open, controlled by signals.

Fulton County, IL Route 9 Near Fiatt, New Bridge Construction, one lane open. Controlled by signals.

Grundy County
Interstate 80, MP 105, Seneca Interchange CLOSED, Detour posted.
Ashley Road over Interstate 80, ROAD CLOSED, Detour posted. 

Hancock County:
U.S. 136 - Four-lane bridge between Hamilton, IL and Keokuk, IA
One west bound and one east bound lane closed for bridge painting.

Henry County:
Osco Road bridge over the Green River one mile north of IL 81. Bridge deck replacement restricts traffic to one lane controlled by traffic signals.

Iroquois County:
Old Route 45, between Clifton and Chebanse, Bridge Deck Replacement, ROAD CLOSED, Detour posted. 
Illinois 49, Five miles south of US 24, Bridge Deck Replacement, One lane open, controlled by signals.

JoDaviess County:
US 20 bridge over the Apple River two miles west of Elizabeth. Bridge deck replacement restricts traffic to one lane controlled by traffic signals.

IL 78 bridges at Plum River and at Davis Creek south of Stockton. Traffic is controlled by temporary traffic signals at both locations while the structures are replaced one half at a time.

Lake County:
Deerfield Parkway east of IL 83 (reconstruction); intersection of Deerfield Parkway and Buffalo Grove Road (Widening) intersection of Deerfield and Weiland (widening): Roadway and reconstruction and widening in Buffalo Grove-One lane in each direction.

IL 22 (Half Day Rd.) from IL 83 Mundelein Rd. to US 45/21: Roadway Reconstruction in Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, Lincolnshire- One lane in each direction with turn lanes at intersections.  Tight right turn radius at Prairie Rd. & Main St. on IL 22.

IL 22 west of Bueshing Rd. to Quentin Rd. Roadway widening and reconstruction in Lake Zurich- One lane in each direction with turn lanes at intersections.

IL 22 from Beusching to Quentin Rd. Roadway widening and reconstruction in Lake Zurich-One lane in each direction with turn lanes at intersections.

IL 83 over the Wisconsin Central Ltd. Railroad/EJE: New Bridge Deck in Lake Villa, Loon Lake, Antioch- Two narrow lanes open in each direction.  Wide load not accessible

LaSalle County:
Illinois 251 over Interstate 80, Bridge repairs, one lane open in each direction.
Illinois 71, ½ mile east of Illinois 351, Bridge replacement, ROAD CLOSED, Detour posted.
Interstate 39, MP 41 to MP 42, Overhead bridge painting, one lane open in each direction.

Livingston County:
Interstate 55, MP 203, Overhead bridge painting, one lane open in each direction.

Illinois 116, 3 miles west of Illinois 47, Bridge replacement, one lane open, controlled by signals.
Illinois 23, 3 miles south of Illinois 17, Bridge Deck Replacement, One lane open, controlled by signals.

Logan County: 
Old IL 121, Kickapoo Creek, just north of Lincoln. Stage Bridge Construction. One lane traffic controlled by temporary signals.

Madison County:
Staged construction utilizing temporary traffic signals will be encountered along Illinois Route 160 just south of Grantfork.  This lane restriction is necessary to replace the existing bridge.  Work to replace the bridge is expected to be completed by the Fall of 2006. 

Staged construction utilizing temporary traffic signals will be encountered along Illinois Route 4 just north of the intersection of IL Route 4 and IL Route 143 near Marine.  This lane restriction is necessary to replace the existing bridge over Silver Creek.  A signed wide load detour is in place to direct the traveling public.  Work on the bridge is expected to be completed by November 30, 2006.

Staged construction utilizing temporary traffic signals will be encountered along Illinois Route 4 just south of the intersection of IL Route 4 and U.S. Route 40 near St. Jacob.  This lane restriction is necessary to replace the existing bridge over Lake Fork Creek.  A signed wide load detour is in place to direct the traveling public.  Work on the bridge is expected to be completed by November 30, 2006.

Meridian Road at the intersection of IL 157 in Glen Carbon will be closed.  A marked detour is in place to aid the motorists during construction. The road is closed to reconstruct the intersection associated with the widening of IL 157 project.  Work expected to be completed by September 30, 2006.

Marion County:
Staged construction utilizing temporary traffic signals will be encountered on U.S. Route 50 approximately 2 miles and 3 miles west of the Clay County line.  These lane restrictions are necessary to replace the
bridges over Skillet Fork and Dums Creek.  Work on these structures is expected to be completed by the summer of 2007.

McHenry County:
US 14 @ Mokeler Creek to n/o IL 173: Widening in Harvard: Traffic is shifted to the west side of the bridge with one lane open in each direction.

US 14 over Lawrence Creek: Box Culvert Replacement in Big Foot- Traffic is shifted to the right side of the bridge with one lane open in each direction.

McLean County:
Illinois Route 9, eight miles east of Bloomington, bridge rehabilitation.  Traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals.

Montgomery County: 
IL 185 1.3 miles southeast of Coffeen over East Fork of Shoal Creek.  Stage Bridge Construction. One lane traffic controlled by temporary signals. 

SBI 16 (US 66) north bound lanes from south of Litchfield at 10th Street/TR 1000N to IL 16 in Litchfield.  North bound traffic will be detoured to Old US 66 at 10th Street.

Peoria County:
Interstate 74, Exit 89 at War Memorial Drive, Westbound and Eastbound Entrance and Exit ramps closed, Motorists should utilize Exit 88 at Sterling Ave as an alternate route.

Interstate 74, Exit 90 at Gale Ave, Westbound Entrance and Exit ramps closed, pavement reconstruction.

Interstate 74, Exit 91 at University Ave, Westbound Entrance ramp closed, pavement reconstruction.

Interstate 74, Exit 92 WB Entrance and Exit ramps at Glendale closed for pavement reconstruction.

Putnam County:
Interstate 180 over the Illinois River, Bridge Repairs, and One lane open in each direction.

Rock Island County:
IL 92 bridge east of Andalusia. Bridge deck replacement restricts traffic to one lane controlled by traffic signals.

US 67 bridge over the south channel of the Rock River. Traffic is restricted to one lane in each direction as repairs are made to the bridge joints.

Sangamon County: 
Old US 36 & Camp Butler Road at Riverton.  Closed to replace 3 structures.

St. Clair County:
Stage construction along Route Illinois 157 near I-64 reducing the number of lanes from 2 to 1 lane in the southbound direction will be in place until the fall of 2006.

Stage construction along Illinois Route 163, 2-1/2 miles north of Millstadt.  The removal and replacement of the bridge over Prairie DuPont Creek will be completed in two stages utilizing temporary traffic signals.  Work on the bridge is expected to be completed by November 30, 2006.

Tazewell County:
Interstate 74, Exit 95A at Main Street, Westbound Entrance ramp closed, pavement reconstruction.

Interstate 74, Exit 95B at Camp Street, Westbound Entrance ramp closed, pavement reconstruction.

Interstate 74, Exit 96 at Washington Street, Westbound Entrance and exit ramps closed, pavement reconstruction.

IL Route 29, one lane closed on Southbound and Northbound for pavement rehabilitation.

Vermilion County:
US Route 136 (E. Main St. in Danville), road reconstruction work continues, one lane traffic in each direction will be maintained.   

Washington County:
Staged construction utilizing temporary traffic signals will be encountered along Illinois Route 15, approximately ½ mile east of Illinois Route 153.  This lane restriction is necessary to replace the existing deck beams for the bridge over Elkhorn Creek.  Work on this structure is expected to be completed by July 31, 2006.

Whiteside County:
IL 40 bridges over Winnebago Ditch one mile north of Deer Grove and over the Green River one mile south of Deer Grove. Bridge deck replacement restricts traffic to one lane controlled by temporary traffic signals at both locations.

US 30 bridge over the Mississippi River. The crossing is closed to allow for complete replacement of two approach structures. Traffic is detoured one mile north on IL 84 to use the IL 136 bridge over the Mississippi to Iowa.

IL 84 bridges over Cedar Creek and over Spring Creek approximately one mile north of Albany Traffic is controlled by temporary traffic signals at both locations while the structures are replaced one half at a time.

Will County:
US 30 & Lily Cache: Bridge and Intersection reconstruction & widening in Plainfield-One lane in each direction

US 30 from Essington to Larkin- Reconstruction in Crest Hill & Joliet- One lane in each direction

Winnebago County:
IL 173 is closed at the I-90 overpass to allow for construction of a new interchange. IL 173 is detoured around the work area on IL 251, Swanson Road, and Belvidere Road.