IDOT Launches New Site to Keep Public Informed on I-80 Reconstruction

IDOT Launches New Site to Keep Public Informed on I-80 Reconstruction

I-80 Center St. Aerial

The Illinois Department of Transportation has launched a new website, I80will.org, to provide the public with the latest information on the $1.2 billion reconstruction of Interstate 80 through Will County, one of the cornerstone projects of Governor JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program.

As one of the country’s three coast-to-coast interstates, I-80 through Joliet and Will County carries approximately 80,000 vehicles a day, about 25% of which are trucks. Advance work on I-80 started last year with a $41.7 million project to replace eastbound bridges over Hickory Creek, Richards Street and Rowell Avenue/Canadian National Railroad, and westbound over Richards Street, in Joliet, Rockdale and New Lenox, while widening eastbound I-80 from Gardner Street to Rowell Avenue. Once the eastbound improvements are completed later this year, similar improvements will begin in the westbound direction.

Project News

IDOT Launches New Site to Keep Public Informed on I-80 Reconstruction

The Illinois Department of Transportation has launched a new website, I80will.org, to provide the public with the latest information on the $1.2 billion reconstruction of Interstate 80 through Will County, one of the cornerstone projects of Governor JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program.

read more

Interstate 80 Project Includes Overnight Lane Closures

Construction crews on Monday will begin getting Interstate 80 ready for the $1.2 billion project that includes replacing the Des Plaines River bridge. The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Thursday that bridge deck patching and repairs to I-80 between Chicago and Briggs streets in Joliet will require overnight lane closures, followed by multiple weekend lane and ramp closures.

read more

The Houbolt Road Extension Project is Moving Forward

The Houbolt Road Extension Project is Moving Forward Project Completion Projected for Early 2023 Houbolt Road Extension JV, LLC ("HRE-JV"), a joint venture between United Bridge Partners and CenterPoint Properties, entered into a lease agreement with the City of...

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Houbolt Bridge Construction Ready to Go

Construction of the Houbolt Road bridge is expected to start within the next couple of weeks. “We’re a full go as of today,” Michael Murphy, chief development officer for CenterPoint Properties said Tuesday.

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Joliet Invites Public to Houbolt Road Meeting

Joliet invites public to Houbolt Road meeting

City holds informational meeting April 6 on pending construction project

An electronic sign warns southbound motorists on Houbolt Road in Joliet of construction activity that has started around the Interstate 80 interchange on Tuesday. (Bob Okon)

BY BOB OKON -BOKON@SHAWMEDIA.COM The city of Joliet is inviting the public to an informational meeting on April 6 about the construction project this year on Houbolt-Hollywood Road and the Interstate 80 interchange.

The meeting will be from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Houbolt Road Construction Field Office, which is located at 1116 Houbolt Road, Unit B.

Construction will start in the coming weeks, and utility relocation near the interchange has begun.

Council member Joe Clement asked for the meeting and noted the project will affect residents, businesses, Joliet Junior College and motorists who drive through the area.

“Everyone coming through that corridor, I just want them to know what the timeline is going to be for that project, how bad it’s going to be, or how good it’s going to be,” Clement said.

City officials and project leaders will be at the meeting to discuss construction with the public. A proposed construction schedule will be available. Renderings and final plans for the improvements also will be available.

Read the full release at:
ShawLocal.com

Project News

IDOT Launches New Site to Keep Public Informed on I-80 Reconstruction

The Illinois Department of Transportation has launched a new website, I80will.org, to provide the public with the latest information on the $1.2 billion reconstruction of Interstate 80 through Will County, one of the cornerstone projects of Governor JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program.

read more

Interstate 80 Project Includes Overnight Lane Closures

Construction crews on Monday will begin getting Interstate 80 ready for the $1.2 billion project that includes replacing the Des Plaines River bridge. The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Thursday that bridge deck patching and repairs to I-80 between Chicago and Briggs streets in Joliet will require overnight lane closures, followed by multiple weekend lane and ramp closures.

read more

The Houbolt Road Extension Project is Moving Forward

The Houbolt Road Extension Project is Moving Forward Project Completion Projected for Early 2023 Houbolt Road Extension JV, LLC ("HRE-JV"), a joint venture between United Bridge Partners and CenterPoint Properties, entered into a lease agreement with the City of...

read more

Houbolt Bridge Construction Ready to Go

Construction of the Houbolt Road bridge is expected to start within the next couple of weeks. “We’re a full go as of today,” Michael Murphy, chief development officer for CenterPoint Properties said Tuesday.

read more

IDOT Hosts Governor JB Pritzker Press Conference – Update on Houbolt Road Extension-I80 Project

IDOT Hosts Governor JB Pritzker Press Conference – Update on Houbolt Road Extension-I80 Project

Doug Pryor, Vice President of Economic Development with the Will County Center for Economic Development was among the speakers following Governor Pritzker’s update on these critical infrastructure projects. Doug thanked the Governor for his commitment to Will County and his ongoing emphasis on the importance of investing in infrastructure both here in Will County and around the state as we work to grow our local businesses and market Illinois to companies around the nation and the world.

Doug reinforced that reinvestment in the Will County infrastructure will allow us to continue to compete globally, recruiting companies like Lion Electric, which is well underway constructing North America’s largest all-electric school bus and medium duty truck manufacturing facility.

Doug continued:

“Projects like Lion build on the long-standing manufacturing heritage of this region and provide an important foundation for future manufacturing competitiveness for Will County and for Illinois. Investment and support from the State and from the Governor’s office in our infrastructure allows us to keep growing jobs and investment while delivering workers and goods safely.”

RELATED NEWS:
Gov. Pritzer Advances Vision to Rebuild I-80, Announces Next Phase of Houbolt Road Project in Joliet.

Project News

IDOT Launches New Site to Keep Public Informed on I-80 Reconstruction

The Illinois Department of Transportation has launched a new website, I80will.org, to provide the public with the latest information on the $1.2 billion reconstruction of Interstate 80 through Will County, one of the cornerstone projects of Governor JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program.

read more

Interstate 80 Project Includes Overnight Lane Closures

Construction crews on Monday will begin getting Interstate 80 ready for the $1.2 billion project that includes replacing the Des Plaines River bridge. The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Thursday that bridge deck patching and repairs to I-80 between Chicago and Briggs streets in Joliet will require overnight lane closures, followed by multiple weekend lane and ramp closures.

read more

The Houbolt Road Extension Project is Moving Forward

The Houbolt Road Extension Project is Moving Forward Project Completion Projected for Early 2023 Houbolt Road Extension JV, LLC ("HRE-JV"), a joint venture between United Bridge Partners and CenterPoint Properties, entered into a lease agreement with the City of...

read more

Houbolt Bridge Construction Ready to Go

Construction of the Houbolt Road bridge is expected to start within the next couple of weeks. “We’re a full go as of today,” Michael Murphy, chief development officer for CenterPoint Properties said Tuesday.

read more

Gov. Pritzker Announces Six-Year Plan for $1.2 Billion I-80 Corridor Improvement Project

Gov. Pritzker Announces Six-Year Plan for $1.2 Billion I-80 Corridor Improvement Project

Gov. Pritzker Announces Six-Year Plan for $1.2 Billion I-80 Corridor Improvement Projec

Photo: WJOL.com

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation were joined today by local officials and community leaders to announce a six-year plan to rebuild Interstate 80 in Will County. Made possible by the Governor’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program, the $1.2 billion project will replace more than 50-year-old infrastructure on a condensed timeframe and create thousands of construction and permanent jobs while positioning the region for long-term economic opportunity.

“This rebuild will transform 16 miles of I-80, redesign auxiliary lanes and interchanges to reduce congestion, and rehabilitate over 30 bridges along the roadway. These overdue improvements will not only make it safer for commercial drivers, but for the thousands of families who rely on I-80 to commute to work, drive their kids to school, and move safely through their daily lives,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “While this project is ambitious in scale, it has also been designed to minimize its impact on the residents that live along the highway. New pedestrian and bicyclist paths will help keep communities better connected and eight miles of noise walls will help keep surrounding neighborhoods insulated from noisy traffic.”

“The I-80 project is a major step in the amazing Rebuild Illinois plan,” said Lt. Governor Stratton. “The purpose is to improve infrastructure, but at its core Rebuild Illinois is about connecting us as people by repairing the roads and bridges we travel every day to work, school, and to visit friends and loved ones.”

As one of the country’s three coast-to-coast interstates, I-80 through Joliet and Will County carries approximately 80,000 vehicles a day, about 25% of which are trucks. Due to the outdated design and capacity restraints, congestion as well as frequent merging and weaving are common. To shorten the construction timeline, several project components and land acquisition efforts will be done concurrently to deliver a cornerstone project of Rebuild Illinois more quickly, with less impact to the public.

Starting next year, the section from Ridge Road to the DuPage River will be under construction as land acquisition progresses and final engineering is completed on the replacement of the Des Plaines River bridges. Improvements will begin from Ridge Road to U.S. 30 in 2023, leaving construction of the Des Plaines River bridges and Center Street and U.S. 52/Illinois 53 (Chicago Street) interchanges in 2026 and 2027.

Advance work on I-80 started this summer with a $41.7 million project to replace the eastbound bridges over Hickory Creek, Richards Street, Rowell Avenue/Canadian National Railroad, and westbound over Richards Street, in Joliet, Rockdale and New Lenox, while widening eastbound I-80 from Gardner Street to Rowell Avenue. Once the eastbound improvements are completed next year, similar improvements will begin in the westbound direction.

When it wraps up in 2027, the overall I-80 project will have redesigned and rebuilt 16 miles from Ridge Road, in Minooka, to U.S. 30, in Joliet and New Lenox, while adding or extending auxiliary lanes to improve safety and reduce congestion. Interchanges will have been rebuilt or improved at Interstate 55, Illinois 7, Center Street, Chicago Street, Richards Street and Briggs Street, with a new flyover ramp linking southbound I-55 to westbound I-80 to improve traffic flow and safety. More than 30 bridges will have been rehabilitated or replaced.

“With demand for freight projected to double in northeastern Illinois the next 20 years, Will County’s role as a transportation hub and the country’s largest inland port is critical,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “We know I-80 drives commerce in this vitally important part of the state. At the governor’s direction, we are expediting these improvements as quickly as we can.”

Read the full article at: Illinois.gov

View a Project Timeline

Project News

IDOT Launches New Site to Keep Public Informed on I-80 Reconstruction

The Illinois Department of Transportation has launched a new website, I80will.org, to provide the public with the latest information on the $1.2 billion reconstruction of Interstate 80 through Will County, one of the cornerstone projects of Governor JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program.

read more

Interstate 80 Project Includes Overnight Lane Closures

Construction crews on Monday will begin getting Interstate 80 ready for the $1.2 billion project that includes replacing the Des Plaines River bridge. The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Thursday that bridge deck patching and repairs to I-80 between Chicago and Briggs streets in Joliet will require overnight lane closures, followed by multiple weekend lane and ramp closures.

read more

The Houbolt Road Extension Project is Moving Forward

The Houbolt Road Extension Project is Moving Forward Project Completion Projected for Early 2023 Houbolt Road Extension JV, LLC ("HRE-JV"), a joint venture between United Bridge Partners and CenterPoint Properties, entered into a lease agreement with the City of...

read more

Houbolt Bridge Construction Ready to Go

Construction of the Houbolt Road bridge is expected to start within the next couple of weeks. “We’re a full go as of today,” Michael Murphy, chief development officer for CenterPoint Properties said Tuesday.

read more

I-80 bridge work in Joliet begins June 28

I-80 bridge work in Joliet begins June 28

First step to major I-80 reconstruction from Ridge Road to U.S. 30

Press Release from IDOT

I-80 des plaines bridge

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that a $48 million project to replace the eastbound Interstate 80 bridges over Hickory Creek, Richards Street, Rowell Avenue/Canadian National Railroad, and westbound over Richards Street, in Joliet, Rockdale and New Lenox, will begin, weather permitting, Monday, June 28. The project is part of advance work leading to the $1.2 billion reconstruction of I-80 through Will County, a cornerstone of Gov. JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program.

“This project is about much more than replacing worn concrete and steel,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “It represents a significant investment in the Will County area and is a big step forward in our work to improve safety, mobility and create economic opportunity for years to come. We’re asking drivers to be patient, slow down and pay extra attention driving in and around any work zone.”

Starting Monday, June 21, overnight work will begin to install concrete barriers to prepare for the work zone. Motorists should expect lane shifts and lane closures on both sides of I-80, between Chicago and Briggs streets, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Thursday and from 9 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday. At least two lanes in each direction will remain open. Daytime traffic will not be impacted.

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.

By Monday, June 28, both eastbound and westbound I-80 traffic will have shifted onto the right shoulders and new temporary pavement. The first stage of the project will consist of building new bridges, pavement, and a concrete barrier wall in the middle of I-80 from Gardner Street to west of Briggs Street. Two lanes in each direction will be maintained throughout construction. The eastbound I-80 ramp to Richards Street will close briefly during the second stage of construction, anticipated in late 2021/early 2022.

The existing bridges were built in the 1960s and are reaching the end of their useful life. The project, which includes replacing the existing four bridges with new wider structures, installing new signage and modernized LED lights, reconstructing, and widening eastbound I-80 from Gardner Street to Rowell Avenue, is expected to be completed late 2022. Once the eastbound bridges are nearing completion, focus will turn to the bridges in the westbound directions.

The eventual replacement of the Des Plaines River bridges and larger improvements to I-80 in Will County are made possible by Governor Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois bipartisan capital plan, which will invest $33.2 billion in transportation infrastructure across all modes throughout the state. The estimated $1.2 billion project is included in IDOT’s current FY22-27 Multi-Year Program with a start date dependent on plan readiness and ongoing land acquisition.

The project will reconstruct 16 miles of I-80, from Ridge Road in Minooka to U.S. 30 in Joliet and New Lenox, while adding or extending auxiliary lanes to improve safety and reduce congestion, as well as improving interchanges at I-55, Illinois 7, Center Street, U.S. 52/Illinois 53, Richards Street and Briggs Street.

For more information on IDOT projects, click here. Find traffic and road conditions at www.gettingaroundillinois.com. You also can follow IDOT on Facebook and Twitter.

Project News

IDOT Launches New Site to Keep Public Informed on I-80 Reconstruction

The Illinois Department of Transportation has launched a new website, I80will.org, to provide the public with the latest information on the $1.2 billion reconstruction of Interstate 80 through Will County, one of the cornerstone projects of Governor JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program.

read more

Interstate 80 Project Includes Overnight Lane Closures

Construction crews on Monday will begin getting Interstate 80 ready for the $1.2 billion project that includes replacing the Des Plaines River bridge. The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Thursday that bridge deck patching and repairs to I-80 between Chicago and Briggs streets in Joliet will require overnight lane closures, followed by multiple weekend lane and ramp closures.

read more

The Houbolt Road Extension Project is Moving Forward

The Houbolt Road Extension Project is Moving Forward Project Completion Projected for Early 2023 Houbolt Road Extension JV, LLC ("HRE-JV"), a joint venture between United Bridge Partners and CenterPoint Properties, entered into a lease agreement with the City of...

read more

Houbolt Bridge Construction Ready to Go

Construction of the Houbolt Road bridge is expected to start within the next couple of weeks. “We’re a full go as of today,” Michael Murphy, chief development officer for CenterPoint Properties said Tuesday.

read more