SPRINGFIELD, IL -- The rehabilitation of Interstate 55 between Clear Lake Avenue and Sherman, and Sangamon Ave. east of I-55, is set to begin on Monday, June 3.

Work this construction season will include patching, milling and resurfacing nearly eight miles of I-55 between Clear Lake Ave. (mile post 98) to north of the Sherman interchange (mile post 106), and resurfacing the I-55 interchange ramps with Sangamon Avenue, Clear Lake Avenue, and South Grand Avenue

Additional work will include resurfacing Sangamon Ave. from east of I-55 to the IL 54/Camp Butler Road interchange; resurfacing I-55 southbound over I-55 Business Loop and the SPCSL Railroad north of Sherman; replacing a damaged steel beam on the County Highway 1 bridge over I-55 in Sherman; and overlaying the deck of the Bissel Road bridge over I-55 and reconstruction of the roadway approaches to that bridge.

During the work on I-55 the contractor can close one lane in each direction between Sangamon Ave. and Sherman, except all southbound lanes will be open between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and northbound lanes will be open from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. From Sangamon Ave. to Clear Lake Ave. there will be no lane closures between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., with most of the work done at night.

Additionally, from 3 p.m. on Fridays to midnight Sundays and on holidays there will be no lane closures on I-55 except for the bridge construction near Sherman. Work will also be suspended during the Illinois State Fair.

A real time traffic control system, similar to that used on the Lake Springfield Bridge project, will be used to inform motorists of special traffic situations and congestion. The system will use four interconnected message boards placed in advance of the construction zone, and four stand alone message boards that can be used where needed as necessary.

All 2002 construction is expected to be completed by October 4.

Work in 2003 will include the replacement of the Sangamon Ave. structures over the Illinois Central Railroad just west of I-55, and resurfacing Sangamon Ave. from east of Dirksen Parkway to the start of the previous year's project east of I-55.

That work is to be completed by August 1 in time for the Illinois State Fair.

A bonus/penalty special provision will be used with the contract, with a maximum incentive of $75,000 ($15,000 per day for five days). If the contractor does not have the construction complete for the opening of the state fair, there will be a $90,000 penalty charge, and there will continue to be a charge of $15,000 per day until all work is complete.

Prime contractors on the $11.7 million project are Illinois Valley Paving and Truman L. Flatt of Springfield.

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