IDOT Gives Motorists a Break for Memorial Day Weekend

SPRINGFIELD- With thousands of people traveling over the upcoming holiday weekend, and no end in sight to the high gasoline prices, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced they will be suspending roadwork where possible to make for a smoother drive.  Despite high gas prices, people are not expected to put aside travel plans and do the one thing to cut their fuel costs-drive less.

"Memorial Day weekend is a time when everyone wants to get out and we know a lot of folks will be hitting our roads for a long weekend, despite the high price of gas," IDOT Secretary Martin said.  "We're opening as many lanes as possible, to keep drivers and workers safe and also to make travel as smooth as possible."

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.

Drivers will also notice the Illinois State Police photo enforcement vans designed to capture people speeding in a work zone and protect the lives of both workers and citizens traveling through work zones.  The speed limit in a work zone is 45 miles per hour and will be continue to be enforced during the holiday weekend.

AAA Motor Club reports that more people than ever are expected to travel this Memorial Day Weekend.  The motor club estimates that 37.6 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home, almost a 1 percent increase from last year.  The vast majority of those travelers- 84 percent - are expected to go by motor vehicle.

"High gas prices and increased vacation costs won't deter Americans from traveling this Memorial Day," Nicole Niemi, AAA Chicago spokesperson said.  "Families may travel closer to home or for fewer days but they will continue to take vacations and plan getaways."

Holiday auto travelers will find gas prices nationwide currently averaging $2.93 for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline—up 17 cents from a month ago and more than 75 cents higher than this time last year.

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).

Various construction zones will be open for Memorial Day weekend from 3:00 pm, Friday, May 26,
through midnight, Monday, May 29.  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.

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

Bureau County:
Interstate 80, MP 68 to 71, Median work, one lane open.

New Bedford Road, ½ mile west of Illinois 40, Bridge replacement, road closed.

Champaign County:
Interstate 74, Mile Marker 182.5, bridge rehabilitation.  Two lanes of traffic maintained through the work area, traffic is required to shift lanes to one side to avoid the work area. 

Interstate 72 one mile east of I-57, bridge rehabilitation.  Traffic restricted to one lane eastbound.

Clinton County:
Staged construction utilizing temporary traffic signals will be encountered along Illinois Route 127 approximately 2.5 south of Carlyle.  This lane restriction is necessary to repair the existing bridge deck.  This work is expected to be completed by June 15, 2006.

Cook County:
Torrence Avenue IL 83 at Kingery (I-80/94) in Lansing will have two lanes open in each direction with bridge, ramp and median work continuing.  The entrance ramp from Torrence Ave. to WB I-80/94 is closed with detour posted.

Bishop Ford in South Holland-2 lanes each direction from 159th to I-80. Ramp from NB Ford to EB 159th Closed.  Ramp from SB Ford to EB Kingery reduced to 1 lane.

Illinois 394 in Thornton and Lansing 1 lane in each direction between Glenwood-Lansing Rd. and I-80.  NB IL-394 to EB I-80/NB I-294 closed w/ detour posted. Ramp from NB 394 to WB I-80/ NB 294 is closed with detour posted.

Kingery 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.  2 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. 

Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago: Three lanes open in both directions from 95th St. to 18th St.  Express lanes will be closed.  From 71st to 95th inside lane will be closed in both directions.  NB & SB express lanes closed from 69th to 31st Sts. with local lanes open to traffic.  Left lane closures on State from 71st to 87th and on Lafayette from 71st to 99th/Wentworth Avenue.  76th Street bridge will be closed.  Left lane closed on SB Dan Ryan from 71st to 95th.   Root St. bridge will be closed.

Dan Ryan Expressway Ramp Closures in Chicago:  SB 59th exit and NB 59th entrance ramps are permanently closed.  SB & NB 51st St. exit and entrance ramps are permanently closed.  76th St. SB entrance and NB exit, 79th St. NB entrance and SB exit; 95th St. NB entrance and SB exit; 71st St. NB exit; 75th St. NB entrance; 87th St. SB entrance (detour to 79th) and 87th St. NB entrance and exit; Wentworth SB exit; Roosevelt (IL 38) SB entrance; Halsted NB entrance; SB I-55 to WB 90/94 entrance ramp.

Skyway Interchange/ Dan Ryan from 67th to Wentworth Ave. 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.

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

Palatine/Willow Road in Wheeling, Prospect Hts:
Express lanes closed at IL 21 (Milwaukee Ave.) bridge.  On IL 83 (Elmhurst Rd.) one lane in each direction.

Palatine/Willow Road @ IL 83 (Elmhurst Rd.) in Wheeling, Prospect Hts.  One lane in each direction.

Oak Park Ave. from IL 38 to IL 64 in Oak Park : One lane in each direction.

Maple Avenue/Chicago Ave from Cumnor Road to IL 83 in Clarendon Hills, Westmont: Eastbound traffic is closed for the duration of project.  Eastbound traffic follows a posted detour route.

Grand Avenue in Franklin Park-One lane in each direction.  Detour posted.

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

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

Torrence Ave IL 83 at Kingery in Lansing:  2 lanes in each direction open. 
Entrance ramp from Torrence Ave. to WB I80/94 is closed with detour posted.  

DeKalb County:
Illinois 23, ½ mile south of Illinois 72, Bridge deck replacement, One lane open, controlled by signals.

Ford County:
Illinois 9, ½ mile west of Illinois 115, Bridge deck replacement, ROAD CLOSED, Detour posted.

Illinois 116, 1 mile east of Illinois 115, Bridge deck replacement, ROAD CLOSED, Detour posted.

Effingham County:
I-57 & 70 milepost 158, bridge replacement, 2 narrow lanes open each direction.
I-57 & 70 milepost 160, interchange work, North/Eastbound shoulder closed.

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

Grundy County:
Interstate 80, MP 105, Seneca Interchange bridge restricted to one lane open, controlled by signals.

Hardin County:
IL 146-1 mile East of Elizabethtown:  bridge repair.  One lane bridge open, traffic controlled by signals.

Henderson County:
US Route 34, 2 miles west of Carmon Road, Bridge Reconstruction, one lane open in each direction.

Henry County:
IL 78 bridge over Mud Creek 3.0 miles north of Kewanee. Bridge deck replacement restricts traffic to one lane controlled by traffic signals.

IL 81 is closed in Kewanee just west of ILL 78 for pavement removal and replacement. Traffic is detoured around the closure on city streets.

IL 82 in Geneseo is restricted to one lane at a box culvert just north of I-80. Traffic is controlled by temporary traffic signals while the culvert is replaced one half at a time.

Iroquois County:
Interstate 57, MP 268 Southbound, Overhead bridge painting, one lane open.
    
Lake County:
IL 22 (Half Day Road) from IL 83 Mundelein Road to US 45/21 in Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, and Lincolnshire:  one lane in each direction with turn lanes at intersections.

IL 22 from Bueshing Road to Quentin Road in Lake Zurich:  one lane in each direction with turn lanes at intersections.

Lake Zurich Bypass Elgin, Joliet, and Eastern RR, IL 22, and US 12 in Lake Zurich: one lane in each direction with turn lanes at intersections.

IL 83 over the Wisconsin Central Ltd. Railroad in Lake Villa, Loon Lake, and Antioch:  Two narrow lanes open in each direction.  Wide load not accessible.

LaSalle County:
Interstate 39, MP 55, Deck patching on the Abe Lincoln Bridge, one lane open each direction.
Interstate 39, MP 73, Bridge Repairs, one lane open each direction.

Illinois 71, ½ mile east of Illinois 351, Bridge replacement, ROAD CLOSED, Detour posted.

Illinois 71, East entrance to Starved Rock State Park, Bridge replacement, one lane open, controlled by signals.

Livingston County:
Illinois 116, 3 miles west of Illinois 47, Bridge 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.

Marshall County;
Interstate 39, MP 34, Bridge Repairs, One lane open.

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

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. 

Morgan County: 
IL 267, one mile south of Jacksonville, Bridge replacement.  One lane traffic controlled by temporary signals. 

Ogle County:
IL 72 bridge over Stillman Creek at the east edge of Stillman Valley. Bridge replacement restricts traffic to one lane controlled by temporary traffic signals.   

Peoria County:
Interstate 74, Exit 89 at War Memorial Drive, Westbound and Eastbound Entrance and Exit ramps closed, pavement reconstruction.  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.

Putnam County:
Interstate 180 over the Illinois River, Bridge Repairs, one lane open.

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

Interstate 74, Exit 96 at Washington Street, Westbound Entrance ramp closed, pavement reconstruction.

Randolph County:
Staged construction utilizing temporary traffic signals will be encountered along Illinois Route 3 approximately 1-1/2 miles north of Ruma.  This lane restriction is necessary to replace the existing bridge and is expected to be complete by November 2005. 

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

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 is reducing the number of lanes from 2 to 1 lane in the southbound direction.

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.

Illinois Route 163 just south of Illinois Route 157 in Centreville is closed. A marked detour will be established to aid the motorists during construction. The road will be closed to removal and replacement the bridge over Harding Ditch.  Work on the bridge is expected to be completed by July 21, 2006.

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

Union County: 
US 51 Just south of Cobden School Road:  Bridge replacement.  One lane bridge open, traffic controlled by signals.

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.  Work on this structure is expected to be completed by July 15, 2006.

White County:
IL 14-four miles west of Carmi:  bridge replacement.  One lane open, traffic controlled by signals.

US 45-1.5 miles south of IL 14-US 45 intersection, south of Enfield:  Bridge replacement.  One lane bridge open, traffic controlled by signals.

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 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 ILL 84 to use the ILL 136 bridge over the Mississippi to Iowa.

Moline Road is closed northeast of Lyndon near Yorktown Road to replace a bridge over a drainage ditch. Traffic using Moline Road is directed to use I-88 as a detour.

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