IDOT Gives Motorists a Break for Holiday Weekends; Reminds Drivers to Plan Ahead for Winter Travel

CHICAGO—Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Milton R. Sees announced the agency will be giving motorists a break by suspending lane closures where possible over the Christmas and New Year's Holiday weekends. Secretary Sees also urged drivers to closely monitor weather reports before beginning any long distance car trips, and to check IDOT's web site - 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 hotline.

"The roads are packed this time of year with drivers traveling to visit family and friends for the holidays," said Secretary Sees.  "We want to make their trip is as smooth as possible by suspending construction and opening lanes.  When winter storms are threatening, we also urge the public to delay travel plans when possible and use IDOT's web site or toll free hotline to check for the latest road condition reports. Winter storms create hazardous road conditions and the safest course of action is to let storms pass through before beginning a long car trip."

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 are clear of lane closures.

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 phone at 1-800-452-IDOT (4368).

Work in construction zones around the state will be suspended for the Christmas Holiday from 3:00 pm, Friday, December 21 through Midnight, Tuesday, December 25 and 3:00 pm, Friday, December 28 through Midnight, Tuesday, January 1.  However, 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 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.

Following are locations where permanent lane closures remain in place:

IDOT Highway District 1

Cook County:

IL Rt. 50 (Cicero Avenue) over the North Branch of the Chicago River: Bridge replacement, one lane of traffic will be open in each direction at all times

IL Rt. 68 (Dundee Road) over US Rt. 14 and Union Pacific RR: Bridge replacement, one lane of traffic will be open in each direction at all times.

US Rt. 6 from US Rt. 45 (96th Ave./LaGrange Rd.) to 94th Ave.: Roadway reconstruction, aplit lanes protected with barricades, still two lanes in each direction

Lively Blvd. from Pratt to Touhy, Elk Grove Village: Roadway reconstruction, northbound only open from Pratt to Touhy.

Plum Grove Rd. from Emerson Ave. to Aldridge Ave., Rolling Meadows: Roadway reconstruction, one lane open each direction.

DuPage County:

Hawthorn Lane from Arbor to Powis, West Chicago: Roadway reconstruction, only one westbound lane open, detour posted.

Kane County:

IL 47 over I-88 (East-West Tollway): Reduced to 1 Lane to each direction for bridge replacement.

IL Rt. 31, South Elgin, over proposed new Stearns Rd. south of State St.: Road closed at Sterns Rd.; truck detour to Randall Rd. using US 20 and IL 64.  Local Detour uses Spring St. and McLean St.

McLean Blvd. from Spring St. to Bowes, S. Elgin: Roadway reconstruction, one lane open in each direction.

Illinois St. bridges over the Fox River, Aurora: Bridge reconstruction, only one 10 foot wide lane open in each direction.  Truck detour posted.

Wilson St. Bridge over the Fox River, Batavia: Bridge reconstruction, only one lane open each direction on north half of bridge.
 

Lake County:

Il Rt. 60 over I-294: bridge reconstruction, one lane open in each direction.

Butterfield Rd. from Hardin Ave. to IL Rt. 137: reconstruction and widening, one lane open in each direction.
Will County:

Manhattan-Arsenal Rd. over Jackson Creek, Elwood: Bridge reconstruction, road closed with detour posted.

Naperville-Plainfield Rd. from 111th St. to 95th St.: roadway reconstruction, one lane open in each direction.

IDOT Highway District 2
Henry County:
IL Rt. 82 over the Green River 4.5 miles south of ILL 92: Replacement of bridge deck beams restricts traffic to one lane controlled by temporary traffic signals.

IDOT Highway District 3
DeKalb County:
IL Rt. 38, 1/2 mile west of IL Rt. 23: Bridge replacement, one lane open each direction.
LaSalle County:
I-39, Milepost 55: Deck replacement on the Abraham Lincoln Bridge, one lane open each direction.
IDOT Highway District 6

Macoupin County:

IL Rt. 108 over Hodges Creek, 4 miles west of IL Rt. 111:  Bridge construction, one lane controlled by signals.

IDOT Highway District 7

Wabash County:

IL Rt. 1, north of Grayville: Bridge reconstruction, with only 1 lane of traffic, controlled by signals.
 

Macon County:

IL Rt. 48/Oakland Avenue: bridge reconstruction with lane and width restrictions

IDOT Highway District 8:

Madison County:

IL Rt. 43, East of Edwardsville: Staged construction utilizing temporary traffic signals to maintain two-way traffic.
 
IL Rt. 140 over Cahokia Creek, approximately 2.5 miles east of the intersection of IL Rt. 140 and IL Rt. 159: Staged construction utilizing temporary traffic signals to maintain two-way traffic.

St. Clair County:

Westbound I-55/70/64 ramp from Piggott Ave. onto westbound I-55/70/64: Closed for deck repairs.  Motorists wanting to travel onto westbound I-55/70/64 from Piggott Ave. should follow the marked detour to Fourth Street in East St. Louis. 

Illinois Rt. 161 just west of Illinois Rt. 159 in Swansea: A lane shift and restriction is in place.

IL Rt. 13/15 just east of Green Mount Road: A lane shift and restriction is in place
                      
 IL Rt. 13/157, over Harding Ditch, just southeast of the junction of Illinois Route 13/157: Road is closed for bridge replacement.  A marked detour utilizing Illinois Routes 163 and 15 will be in place to move traffic around the closed section. 

IL Rt. 156 east of Hecker: Staged construction utilizing temporary traffic signals will be encountered: this lane restriction is necessary to replace the existing structure carrying IL Rt. 156 over Richland Creek.

IDOT Highway District 9

Franklin County:

Illinois 14, 0.5 miles east of Christopher: One lane bridge construction with traffic controlled by temporary signals.
 
Hardin County:

IL Rt. 1, two miles south of Gallatin County; One lane bridge controlled by temporary signals.

IL Rt. 34, 2.1 miles south of Herod:  One lane bridge controlled by temporary signals.

Pope County:

Dixon Springs Park: Main park entrance road closed for bridge replacement

Saline County:

IL Rt. 34, North edge of Harrisburg at Small Street: One lane bridge controlled by temporary signals.

IL Rt. 34, 1.7 miles north of Harrisburg: One lane bridge construction with traffic controlled by temporary signals.

White County:

US Rt. 45m, 1.5 miles south of Mill Shoals: One lane bridge controlled by temporary signals.

Williamson County:

I-57, western edge of Marion: NB and SB entrance ramps from Old Illinois Rt. 13 closed.