Travel Midwest High Priority Announcements

 

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that a rehabilitation of the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90/94), from the Edens Expressway (Interstate 94) junction to Ohio Street, is scheduled to begin, weather permitting, Monday, March 20. Major travel delays are anticipated, alternative routes are strongly encouraged.

 

The estimated $150 million project consists of rehabilitating 36 bridge structures and the Reversible Lane Access Control (REVLAC) system, replacing overhead sign-structures, installing new signage and modernized LED lights, pavement patching and structural painting. Additionally, Hubbard’s Cave, from Grand Avenue to Wayman Street, will be painted and new LED lighting installed.

 

The work will take place over three consecutive construction seasons, broken down into the following three stages:

 

 

To help minimize the impact to traffic the reversible express lanes will remain open in the inbound direction, while two mainline inbound lanes will be closed at a time. Motorists should expect lane shifts and overnight lane closure, along with various ramp closures. Later this summer, painting and the installation of new LED lighting will begin on inbound Hubbard’s Cave, between Ohio and Lake streets. Construction is anticipated to be completed later this fall, with all lanes and ramps reopening and the express lanes resuming normal operations.

 

 

The reversible express lanes will be closed to accommodate rehabilitation of the REVLAC system and bridge structures, along with pavement patching. In addition, mainline lane closures will be needed to accommodate painting and the installation of new LED lighting in both directions of Hubbard’s Cave, between Ohio and Lake streets. Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2024 and be completed in fall 2024.

 

 

The reversible express lanes will remain open in the outbound direction, while two mainline outbound lanes will be closed at a time. Lane shifts and overnight lane closure, along with various ramp closures will be needed to complete the work. Additionally, new LED lighting installation and painting will be completed on outbound Hubbard’s Cave, between Ohio and Lake streets. Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2025 and be completed in late fall 2025.

 

Motorists should expect significant delays and allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment. Public transportation and traveling during non-peak hours are recommended if possible.

 

The Kennedy Expressway officially opened in November 1960, with the last major rehabilitation completed in 1994. The project will improve safety, traffic flow and reliability for the more than 275,000 motorists who use the expressway each day.

 

Statewide, over the next six years, IDOT is planning to improve more than 2,500 miles of roads and nearly 10 million square feet of bridges as part of Rebuild Illinois, which is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation. Accomplishments through Year Three of Rebuild Illinois included approximately $8.6 billion of improvements statewide on 4,422 miles of highway, 412 bridges and 621 safety improvements.

 

For more information on this project, visit https://idot.illinois.gov/projects/Interstate-90-Kennedy-Bridge-Study. The website features project details, maps, photos and fact sheets. The public can email questions to DOT.KennedyRehab@illinois.gov. For systemwide traffic and road conditions, visit www.gettingaroundillinois.com. You also can follow IDOT on Facebook and Twitter.

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that as part of the ongoing rehabilitation of the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90/94), from the Edens Expressway (Interstate 94) junction to Ohio Street, a stage change is scheduled to take place beginning, weather permitting, Monday, May 15. 

To accommodate bridge work at Diversey Avenue, the reversible express lanes exit at Diversey Avenue will be closed for approximately eight weeks. During that time, the express lanes will remain open in the inbound direction and motorists will not be able to exit them until Ohio Street. Drivers should continue to expect lane shifts and overnight lane closure, along with various ramp closures. Later this summer, painting and the installation of new LED lighting will begin on inbound Hubbard’s Cave, between Ohio and Lake streets. 

The inbound Kennedy work is anticipated to be completed later this fall, with all lanes and ramps reopening and the express lanes resuming normal operations. 

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that a project to replace the bridge carrying Wolf Road over Interstate 80, in Mokena and Orland Park, will resume, weather permitting, Wednesday, March 29.

 

To accommodate the work, a full closure of Wolf Road between 183rd and 187th streets will be required through, weather permitting, late August. A posted detour will direct motorists to 191st Street, LaGrange Road (U.S. 45) and 179th Street. Motorists also should expect occasional overnight lane closures and lane shifts on I-80 approaching Wolf Road throughout the project.

 

The $4.7 million project, which consists of replacing the existing bridge with a new wider structure, installing new storm sewers, along with resurfacing and landscaping, is anticipated to be completed later this fall.

 

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.

 

Over the next six years, IDOT is planning to improve more than 2,500 miles of highway and nearly 10 million square feet of bridge deck as part of the Rebuild Illinois capital program, which is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation. Accomplishments through Year Three of Rebuild Illinois included approximately $8.6 billion of improvements statewide on 4,422 miles of highway, 412 bridges, and 621 additional safety improvements.

 

For more information on IDOT projects, click here. You also can follow IDOT on Facebook and Twitter.

Temporary repairs of the outbound Dan Ryan Expressway (Interstate 90/94) ramp, to the outbound Stevenson Expressway (Interstate 55) is scheduled to begin, weather permitting, Monday, Oct. 3. The repairs will allow one (left lane) of the ramp’s two lanes to reopen to traffic. This work is anticipated to be completed by Sunday, Oct. 9.

 

The initial assessment of the ramp indicates that the steel beams under the right lane of the ramp has extensive damage, which will require a more in-depth inspection and comprehensive repairs. This process is initially estimated to take approximately six to eight months to complete.

 

A detour will direct motorists to exit I-55 (inbound), exit to Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and reenter I-55 outbound.

 

Motorists can expects delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area, be prepared for slow and stopped traffic, and if feasible consider taking alternate routes.

 

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today an emergency closure of the outbound Dan Ryan Expressway (interstate 90/94) ramp to the outbound Stevenson Expressway (Interstate 55) as a result of fire damage earlier this morning. 

 

The department is inspecting the damage and evaluating the necessary repairs. Additional information, including the scope of the repairs and the duration of any long-term closures, will be provided once the inspections are complete.

 

A detour will direct motorists to exit I-55 (inbound), exit to Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and reenter I-55 outbound.

 

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.

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Thu Jun 01 2023 21:11:31 CDT