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IDOT Blog – Thursday, May 12, 2022
Chicago to Southern Illinois: Rebuilding I-57
IDOT is making a major investment in Interstate 57 this construction season, as more than a third of the 94 miles of roads and bridges from Chicago’s South Side to the Iroquois-Ford County line will be improved. That’s in addition to several improvements underway along the corridor in central and southern Illinois.
“The I-corridor is vital in moving people and goods from Chicago to southern Illinois and beyond” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “This route provides access to many higher education institutions, state parks, commerce, as well as a freight connection to points south. These improvements continue our commitment in the Rebuild Illinois capital program.”
Construction will affect 38 miles of I-57 in Cook, Will, Kankakee, Iroquois and Ford counties. Along with projects in central and southern Illinois, the total cost is $477.2 million.
Here is the project breakdown by county.
Cook County
Patching and resurfacing from Halsted Street (Illinois 1) in Chicago to Interstate 294 in Posen. When this $32.6 million project completed in November, a 7.6-mile stretch of interstate that passes through Dixmoor, Riverdale, Blue Island and Calumet Park will be improved.
Bridge repairs at I-57/80 in Country Club Hills. This $5.2 million project will repair the deck and structural steel of the I-57 bridges crossing I-80. The work, which includes new approaches, is anticipated to be completed in early November.
Bridge repairs in Matteson. This $2.1 million project will install a new bridge deck overlay with joint replacement and on the bridges carrying I-57 over the Canadian National Railroad south of Lincoln Highway (U.S. 30). Work is expected to be completed in September.
Will County
Patching and resurfacing from Steger Road in University Park to West County Line Road in Peotone. A total 13 miles of I-57 will be improved, including exit ramps, rest areas and weigh stations. This $42.2 million project is anticipated to be completed in early December.
Kankakee County
Bridge replacements in Kankakee. Two projects are underway that will prepare for the future reconstruction of the Illinois 17 interchange.
A two-year, $23.5 million replacement of the I-57 bridges over Grinnell Road and the Norfolk Southern railroad began in March. The northbound bridges are expected to be completed by December. The southbound bridges will be replaced in 2023.
Also, a $11.3 million replacement of the Maple Street/Waldron Road bridge over I-57 will include a longer, wider structure to accommodate future expansion of I-57 and a bicycle and pedestrian path. The project is expected to be completed by summer 2023.
Patching and resurfacing from the Kankakee River to the Chebanse interchange (exit 302). This $20 million project wrapped up this month improved 10 miles of I-57, replaced the Otto Road bridge deck and installed a latex surface on the River Road bridge.
Iroquois County
Patching and resurfacing between Buckley and Onarga. A $20.6 million project will begin this summer to improve 7 miles of I-57 south of Onarga to south of Buckley. Work also will include improvements to the Buckley interchange (exit 272).
Central and southern Illinois
Champaign County: A $216 million, multi-year project to completely rebuild and reconfigure the I-57/74 interchange is continuing with reduced lanes, routine traffic pattern changes and nighttime interstate closures. This project is expected to wrap up by the end of 2025.
Jefferson County: A $16.2 million replacement of the I-57 bridges at the Dix interchange (exit 103) and the Norfolk Southern railroad began in March with the southbound span. The southbound bridges will be completed in November and the northbound bridges will be replaced in 2023.
Franklin County: Work continues to expand I-57 to six lanes and replace bridges over Pond Creek south of West Frankfort, a $20.5 million project scheduled to be completed in September.
Also, work is starting to expand I-57 to six lanes from mileposts 66 to 75, including replacing bridges over the Big Muddy River. This $67 million project is scheduled to be completed in 2025.