TRAFFIC ALERTS

September 25, 2024

Weekend closures on I-80 in Joliet continues

Major travel delays are anticipated – alternative routes are strongly encouraged

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that bridge deck repairs and pavement patching on Interstate 80, between Houbolt Road and Richards Street, in Joliet, will require ramp and lane closures over four consecutive weekends. This is the third of four planned weekend closures along the corridor.

Starting at 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, weather permitting, ramp and lane closures will take place on eastbound I-80, between Houbolt Road and Richards Street. Ramps to and from eastbound I-80 and Chicago Street (U.S.52/Illinois 53) also will be closed. Additionally, the eastbound I-80 ramp to southbound Larkin Avenue (Illinois 7) will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday to noon Saturday and the southbound Larkin Avenue ramp to eastbound I-80 will be closed from 8 p.m. Saturday to noon Sunday.

During those times, motorists should follow the posted detours to access the interstate. At least one eastbound I-80 lane will remain open at all times and westbound I-80 will not be impacted. Eastbound I-80 motorists traveling through the region should consider alternative routes to avoid the area. Local streets are unable to accommodate heavy or wide trucks, so other interstate routes are encouraged. All lanes and ramps are anticipated to reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30.

To complete the work, one additional weekend ramp and lane closure will be required on eastbound I-80, as weather permits and announced in advance.

The work consists of bridge deck repairs and pavement patching to keep the structures in acceptable condition while the larger I-80 corridor improvement are under construction. By scheduling the work over multiple weekends, the unplanned, emergency closures that have occurred with increasing frequency in recent years can be minimized. Also, by planning the repairs, they can be performed more safely and allow motorists the opportunity to plan ahead and use alternative routes to avoid the area when feasible.

As the I-80 reconstruction continues, the public should continue to expect lane shifts, overnight lane closures and significant delays and to 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.

September 19, 2024

Weekend closures on I-80 in Joliet continues

Major travel delays are anticipated – alternative routes are strongly encouraged

The Illinois Department of Transportation is reminding the public that bridge deck repairs and pavement patching on Interstate 80, between Richards Street and Houbolt Road, in Joliet, will require lane closures over four consecutive weekends. This is the second of four planned weekend closures along the corridor.

Starting at 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, weather permitting, lane closures will take place on westbound I-80, between Richards Street and Houbolt Road. At least one westbound I-80 lane will remain open at all times, the ramps and eastbound I-80 will not be impacted. Westbound I-80 motorists traveling through the region should consider alternative routes to avoid the area. Local streets are unable to accommodate heavy or wide trucks, so other interstate routes are encouraged. All lanes are anticipated to reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 23.

To complete the work, additional weekend lane and ramp closures are scheduled to take place, from 10 p.m. Fridays to 5 a.m. Mondays, on westbound and eastbound I-80 for approximately two additional weekends, weather permitting. Details and impacts to traffic will be shared in advance, closer to the closure dates.

September 5, 2024

Closures on I-80 in Joliet over four consecutive weekends

Bridge deck repairs and pavement patching on I-80 in Joliet will require ramp and lane closures over four consecutive weekends beginning, weather permitting, Friday, September 13.

Starting at 10 pm Friday, expect lane closures on WB I-80 between Raynor Ave and Houbolt Rd. At least one WB lane will be open at all times.
The ramps from NB Chicago St (U.S.52/IL 53) to WB I-80 and from WB I-80 to Chicago St will be closed. Follow the posted detour.
All ramps and lanes are anticipated to reopen by 5 am on Monday, Sept. 16.

Please consider alternative routes to avoid the area. Local streets are unable to accommodate heavy or wide trucks, so other interstate routes are encouraged.

Additional weekend lane and ramp closures are scheduled to take place, from 10 pm Fridays to 5 am Mondays, on WB and EB I-80 for approximately three additional weekends, weather permitting.

July 29, 2024

Westbound I-80 Lane Changes

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that as part of the ongoing efforts to replace the Interstate 80 bridges over Hickory Creek, Richards Street and Rowell Avenue/Canadian National railroad, in Joliet, Rockdale and New Lenox, a stage change is scheduled to take place on westbound I-80 beginning, weather permitting, Tuesday, July 30.

To facilitate the stage change, starting at 9 p.m. Tuesday, lane closures will take place on westbound I-80, between Briggs and Chicago streets (U.S. 52/Illinois 53). At least one westbound lane will remain open to traffic. The ramps and eastbound I-80 will not be impacted. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. Wednesday, when the new traffic pattern will be in place.

In the new configuration, the westbound lanes will be shifted onto new pavement just west of Briggs Street to allow for completion of work in the eastbound lanes.

Additionally, the westbound I-80 ramps to and from Richards Street are closed for construction. Motorists should follow the posted detours.

March 28, 2024

I-80 mainline construction, new traffic patterns begin April 1

Beginning Monday, April 1, weather permitting, I-80 mainline work will begin. The new phase will rebuild and widen nearly 12 miles, as part of the overall $1.3 billion reconstruction of the interstate through Will County, a project made possible by Gov. JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program.

A work zone has been established between Ridge Road and Wheeler Avenue with traffic shifted to allow reconstruction of the interstate.

Two lanes in each direction of I-80 will continue to remain during the project, but the public should anticipate narrowed lanes and closed shoulders throughout the entire 12-mile work zone.

Expect delays and allow extra time for trips. Be prepared for slow and stopped traffic. To avoid the work area, when feasible, use of alternate routes and off-peak trips should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment.

December 11, 2023

River Road bridge over I-80 closed through Fall 2024

The River Road bridge over I-80 closed on Monday, December 11. The $6.3 million project will replace the existing bridge with a new wider structure. The project is anticipated to be completed in fall 2024.

A posted detour will direct motorists to Mound (215th Street), County Line and Shepley roads. Motorists should also expect occasional overnight lane closures on I-80 at the bridge during this time. View detour map.

June 9, 2023

Briggs Street over I-80 reduced to one lane through late 2024

Beginning Monday, June 19, weather permitting, construction will begin on the bridge carrying Briggs Street over I-80 in Joliet. The project is part of advance work leading to the $1.2 billion reconstruction of I-80 through Will County.

Briggs Street will remain one lane in each direction, with lane widths reduced to 11 feet and no shoulders over the bridge. Motorists should also expect shoulder and occasional overnight lane closures on I-80 at the bridge during that time.

The project, which involves replacing the existing bridge with a new structure to accommodate the widening of I-80, is anticipated to be completed in late 2024.