More I-55 lane reductions in Will County next week

Work zone down to one lane in each direction for bridge repairs, inspections

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that the Interstate 55 work zone over the BNSF Railroad and Grant Creek, south of Arsenal Road in Will County, will be reduced to one lane in each direction, weather permitting, prior to the morning rush hour Monday, Aug. 5. The work zone also will be extended during the day for the next two weeks to accommodate routine inspections of the I-55 bridges over the Des Plaines River.

The work zone, which is presently reduced to one northbound and two lanes southbound, is necessary to accommodate the replacement of bridge decks and other improvements. Both directions of I-55 will be shifted during the overnight hours to the northbound side, with traffic down to one lane in each direction by 5 a.m. Monday.

Special precautions have been made to enhance safety through the work zone. Signs are posted several miles in advance in either direction. Temporary rumble strips also have been installed to alert approaching motorists. The work zone speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph, with Illinois State Police dedicating special patrols in the area to enforce all traffic laws.

There will be delays and motorists should anticipate allowing extra time for trips through this area. Drivers must 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.

The work zone is expected to be in place until late November, weather permitting, when I-55 returns to two lanes in each direction. The project will resume next spring with the closure of the northbound bridge and traffic crossing over to the southbound lanes to again accommodate one lane in each direction.

The entire project is expected to be complete by the fall of 2020.

There will not be a detour, but Interstate 80 and Illinois 47 is the recommended alternative route. Digital message boards will be in place to display real-time traffic information.

As a temporary measure to perform mandatory bridge inspections on I-55 over the Des Plaines River, IDOT will be extending the work zone to the north during the daytime hours.

Starting Monday, Aug. 5, through Thursday, Aug. 8, southbound I-55 approaching the river will be reduced to one lane, weather permitting, between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. From Monday, Aug. 12, through Thursday, Aug. 15, weather permitting, northbound I-55 approaching the river will reduced to one lane, weather permitting, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Click here to find details on other construction projects in IDOT’s District 1. Updates on the impacts to traffic are available at www.travelmidwest.com.