I-80 Ridge Road to US Route 30 Study

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 percent of which are trucks. Because of the infrastructure condition, population growth, and capacity constraints, heavy congestion as well as frequent merging and weaving are common. In addition, over 30 bridges along the corridor require full replacement. To improve safety, condition and operation along this stretch of I-80, the Illinois Department of Transportation conducted a robust outreach program, coordinating with local municipalities and the public to develop a reconstruction plan that meets the needs of the communities and motorists I-80 serves. 

The I-80 reconstruction project includes approximately 16 miles of the interstate from approximately Ridge Road to U.S. 30 . The corridor includes three counties (Kendall, Grundy, and Will), and passes through six municipalities (Minooka, Channahon, Shorewood, Rockdale, Joliet, and New Lenox). The road crosses four waterways (DuPage River, Rock Run Creek, Des Plaines River, and Hickory Creek), and includes eight interchanges.

The I-80 Phase I Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Study was recently completed and approved by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).  The Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) were approved in September 2022.  The Design Approval was received in December 2022. 

The I-80 project has now moved forward into Phase II Final Design, Land Acquisition and Phase III Construction.  Please visit the Project Website for information regarding the design and construction as the project moves advanced: https://www.i80will.org/

The I-80 reconstruction project was initiated to address the condition, safety and operational issues on the interstate. The Illinois Department of Transportation worked closely with local communities as well as transportation and environmental agencies, and conducted extensive public outreach to develop proposed improvements that meet the needs of the communities it serves while also accommodating anticipated increases in traffic volumes. The study followed federal guidelines outlined in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to identify and evaluate proposed improvements as well as potential impacts.

During the environmental review, extensive public outreach meetings were held to inform stakeholders about the project and gather feedback. In addition, working group meetings consisting of elected officials and community leaders were held, along with coordination meetings with federal, state and local jurisdictions, and regulatory agencies.

IDOT will continue to communicate with stakeholders during the land acquisition, design, and construction processes.  The outreach could include individual meetings and letters, focused community meetings, and/or updates to the project website.  Our goal will be to maximize public participation and provide awareness of the project status moving forward. 

Note: IDOT projects typically have three distinct phases. Phase I (or the project Study) consists of developing the project scope, environmental studies and preliminary design of a project. Phase II (Design) consists of refining the design to develop contract plans and land acquisition. Phase III (Construction) consists of the actual construction of the project.