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

SPRINGFIELD – As millions of Illinois residents prepare to hit the roadways to visit family and friends this holiday season, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Milton R. Sees announced today the agency will be giving motorists a break by suspending lane closures where possible over the Christmas Holiday weekend. Secretary Sees also urged drivers to closely monitor weather reports before beginning any long distance car trips, and to check IDOT’s website - 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.

"We want to do everything possible to ensure safe travel for the millions of motorists traveling to visit their loved ones," said IDOT Secretary Sees. "We hope the suspension of construction and opening lanes this holiday season will help prevent any mishaps on our roadways."

Work in construction zones around the state will be suspended for the Christmas holiday from 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24 through 12 midnight Sunday, Dec. 28.

Because of the nature of some projects, some construction zones throughout the state 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 speed zone limits are still in effect.

According to AAA Chicago, more than 52.4 million Americans (82 percent of all holiday travelers) intend to travel by automobile, a 1.2 percent decrease from the 53 million people who drove last year. In Illinois, nearly 2.5 million people will be traveling for the holidays. The majority, 1.9 million, will be traveling by motor vehicle, with 303,000 people flying.

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).

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

District 1

Cook Glenview
IL 21 from Willow Rd. to Sanders
Reconstruction & Bridge Work
One lane open in each direction (will continue throughout the winter)

Kane Elgin
U.S. 20 (Lake St.) over the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Co.
Bridge Work & Resurfacing
One lane open in each direction

Lake Lake Forest
IL 60 over the Tri-State Tollway & from Riverwoods Rd. Blvd. to Saunders Rd./Field Dr.
Bridge Work, Reconstruction & Resurfacing
Two lanes EB & two lanes WB with left turn lanes provided at signalized intersections.

McHenry Marengo
IL 176 between Millstream Rd. and North Union Rd.
Bridge Reconstruction
Traffic signals have been removed and the roadway is open between Franklinville Road and McCue Road.

McHenry Marengo
IL 176 over the S. branch of the Kishwaukee River
Bridge Reconstruction
Detour traffic is still in effect for bridge between Millstream and Union Roads. Roadway may possibly be open by Christmas if weather permits work to be completed

Lake County Gurnee
US Rte 41, Skokie High way Over IL Rte 132
Roadway, Bridge & Interchange Reconstruction
Two lanes in each direction on US Rte 41 and IL 132, along w/Ramps will remain open, no lane closures are expected.

Cook Harvey
159th St. from Lexington to Fisk
Reconstruction
No impacts on 159th. Park Ave NB will be one lane (lane 2 closed). Work will proceed up on the RR tracks.

Cook Willow Springs
Willow Springs Rd. over the Des Plaines River
Bridge Work
Job is suspended for winter. All lanes open to traffic.

Kane Batavia
IL 31 over Mill Creek
Bridge Work
One lane in each direction

Cook Niles
Cumberland Avenue from Oakton Street to Church Street in Niles
Reconstruction
Lane restrictions.

Cook Wilmette
Green Bay Road at Wilmette Ave., Central Ace, & Lake Ave
Reconstruction
Lane restrictions.

Cook Evanston
Ridge Ave. from Clark St. to Howard St.
Resurfacing One lane is open in each direction.

Cook Wilmette
Sheridan Rd. from 10th St. to Isabella St.
Reconstruction
SB lanes are closed. Traffic was moved to the NB lanes. One lane is open in each direction.

Lake Lake Forest, Highland Park
Old Elm Rd. over the Skokie River
Bridge Reconstruction
All lanes open. Punchlist work in Spring.

Lake Waukegan
Sheridan Rd. from Belvidere Rd. to Grand Ave.
Reconstruction
All lanes open. Intermittent closures over the winter for electrical work.

Lake Waukegan, Gurnee
Sunset Ave. from Delany Rd. to IL 131
Reconstruction
Job completed. All lanes open

Will Wilmington
Arsenal Rd
Reconstruction
Closed from Indian Trail Rd. to Local 150 entrance. Detour posted.

District 2

Winnebago County
ILL 251 (Kishwaukee Street) in Rockford from Harrison Avenue to 15th Street. Removal and replacement of the roadway pavement has restricted traffic to one lane in each direction until November of 2009.

District 3

All lanes open on all state roadways in District 3 during the holiday period.

District 4

Knox County, US Route 34 bypass bridge over US 150 (Henderson St.) in Galesburg, Bridge Reconstruction, one lane open either direction.
Tazewell County- Old IL 122 near Hopedale. Road closed, Bridge Repair.
Mercer County- IL Route 17 East of Joy, Bridge Repair, one lane open, controlled by signals.

District 5

All lanes open to traffic on all state roadways in District 5 during the holiday period.

District 6

Montgomery County
IL 127 one mile north of Donnelson. Reconstruction of bridge restricts traffic to one lane controlled by temporary signals.

District 7

Lawrence County
US 50 west of IL 1 near Lawrenceville. Bridge rehabilitation restricts traffic to one lane controlled by temporary traffic signals.

Wayne County
US 45 north and south of Cisne. Bridge rehabilitations at three separate locations restricting traffic to one lane controlled by temporary traffic signals.

District 8

Madison County
Riggin Road from IL 162 to Parkside Drive in Troy. Riggin Road will be closed for reconstruction. Motorists should follow the marked detour utilizing IL 162 to Laundry Street to Wickliffe Street to Riggin Road and vice versa. Riggin Road is expected to be opened by December 31, 2008.

St. Clair County
IL 13/15 from Freeburg to Greenmount Road. A lane shift and restriction will be encountered along Illinois Route 13/15 just east of Green Mount Road. The project is scheduled to be completed by the Summer of 2009.

Washington County
IL 160 near Addieville. Road will be reduced to one lane to replace the structures carrying IL 160 over Plum Creek and a tributary to Plum Creek near Addieville. Two-way traffic will be maintained utilizing temporary traffic signals. The project will be completed by the end of August, 2009.

District 9

Jefferson County
42nd Street east of the new Veteran's Drive Interchange – Roadway closed due to construction.

Franklin County
Illinois 34, 3.2 miles east of Benton – One lane temporary bridge with traffic controlled by temporary signals.

Hamilton County
Illinois 142, just north of Broughton (2 bridges), One lane bridge construction with traffic controlled by temporary signals.

Hardin
Illinois 1, 2 miles south of Gallatin County, One lane bridge construction with controlled by temporary signals.
Illinois 1, 4 miles south of Gallatin County, One lane bridge construction with traffic controlled by temporary signals.

Williamson
Illinois 37, just north of Johnson Co. line, One lane bridge construction with traffic controlled by temporary signals.
I-57/Old 13, MP 53 on Interstate 57, One lane closed in each direction for median access.

Saline
Illinois 34, north city limit of Harrisburg, One lane bridge construction with traffic controlled by temporary signals.