SCHAUMBURG -- On May 20, weather permitting, a major two-year $29.6 million project to improve US 45 at I-80 near Orland Park, Tinley Park and Mokena will begin.

The project will rebuild and reconfigure the various ramps at the interchange of US 45 and I-80 and will reconstruct US 45 from north of 179^th Street to south of 191^st Street. The overall completion date is October 2003.

The planned improvements include: reconstructing and realigning several ramps at the US 45/I-80 interchange, rebuilding the US 45 bridges over I-80 and over the METRA railroad tracks, and adding a third travel lane in each direction on US 45 from 179^th to the bridge over I-80. Also included is the construction of a new intersection at 183^rd Street, and reconstructing with additional turn lanes the intersections of US 45 at 179^th and 191^st Streets.

There will also be drainage upgrades, improved roadway lighting, and existing traffic signals will be modernized and new ones installed at 183^rd Street and at the I-80 exit ramps to US 45. No significant roadwork is planned to occur on I-80.

The first year work from May 20 to October 31 will focus primarily on activities related to ramp construction for the US 45 at I-80 interchange. Most of this work will be done off-road; that is, it will have only occasional direct impact on traffic as all ramps will remain open. However, US 45 will be reduced to one lane in each direction as crews remove the median and install temporary pavement in preparation for next year’s work. During 2003, US 45 will be rebuilt as well as the several entrance and exit ramps at I-80.

The contractor is K-Five Construction of Lemont.

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