IDOT Ready for 2003 Road Construction Season, Major Projects Located Throughout Chicago Area

SCHAUMBURG— The upcoming 2003 road construction season will feature a wide variety of projects designed to preserve and improve the state highway system in the six-county Chicago region.

"There will be several large projects under construction this year in addition to many smaller ones," said Dirk Fuqua, who oversees all state road construction for the Illinois Department of Transportation District One office. "Road maintenance and safety improvements will be the overall focus, but congestion relief will be targeted as well."

During 2003, the IDOT District One office will oversee more than 200 state road and bridge construction projects. Some of the major ones include:

• I-57: Dan Ryan Expressway (I-94) to I-80

Located in Chicago and several south suburbs, this is the second year of a two-year project to rehabilitate the pavement and bridges along a 12-mile section of I-57. Work during 2003 will focus on the northbound lanes. The project begins in mid-March and will be completed by late October. This year’s work will cost $43.8 million.

• I-80 at U.S. 45 and U.S. 45: 179^th Street to 191^st Street

Located near Tinley Park and Frankfort, this $29.6 million project will rebuild the interchange of I-80 at U.S. 45 and will reconstruct and widen U.S. 45 from 179^th Street to 191^st Street. No lane closures will occur on I-80. Ramp work began in mid-February. Major work on U.S. 45 will begin March 11. It is to be completed by late October.

• I-290 / IL 53: Thorndale Avenue to Golf Road (IL 58)

Located in the northwest suburban communities of Schaumburg, Elk Grove, and Itasca, this project will rebuild and improve a four-mile section of I-290 / IL 53. It will serve as a test case for a new design aimed at doubling the life expectancy of the pavement to 40-years from the current 20-year standard. In addition, auxiliary lanes will be added to help reduce congestion making it easier for vehicles to enter and exit the expressway. The $62.3 million project begins on March 1 and will continue through late October.

• U.S. 12/20/45 (La Grange Road): Archer Avenue (IL 171) to Cal-Sag Channel

Located near the southwest suburbs of Hickory Hills and Palos Hills, this project will rebuild the interchange of U.S. 12/20/45 at IL 171 and reconstruct La Grange Road with shoulders and barrier median wall. The $53.1 million project will occur over a two-year period. Advance work will be done in 2003 with major construction planned for 2004. The advance work began in mid-January.

• IL 64 (North Avenue): IL 53 to Villa Avenue

Located in Lombard and Villa Park, this $37 million project will reconstruct IL 64 and increase the number of lanes from four to six. Temporary daytime lane closures begin as early as February 24. Major pavement work begins in April and will continue until late October.

There will also be a nighttime resurfacing project on I-55 from County Line Road to Willow Springs Road near Burr Ridge and Indian Head Park. This

is a small section of a larger project done in 2002. It was postponed until spring 2003 so not to conflict with last year’s interchange reconstruction project for I-55 at I-294.

Work zone safety is an issue IDOT takes very seriously. As the 2003 construction season begins, motorists are asked to slow down and use caution when driving through all highway work zones

###