IDOT Gives Motorists a Break During Christmas Holiday;
Reminds Drivers about travel tips and Scott’s Law
CHICAGO—Illinois
Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Timothy W. Martin and Illinois
State Police (ISP) Director Larry Trent are urging motorists to drive
responsibly this holiday season. IDOT and ISP
are working together on stepped up campaigns to get impaired drivers off the
road, as well as reminding motorists about Scott’s law, which is intended to
keep emergency and highway maintenance personnel safe. IDOT is also
opening up lanes wherever possible as thousands of families hit the road for the
Christmas and New Year’s holiday.
“The roads are packed this time
of year with drivers traveling to visit family and friends for the holidays,”
said Secretary Martin. “We want to make their trip as smooth as possible
by haulting construction and opening lanes. We are also working closely
with the Illinois State Police to make sure that everyone on the road is safe
this holiday season.”
In the greater Chicagoland
area, all lanes on the Edens, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Stevenson, Dan Ryan, and
Bishop Ford expressways, as well as I-80 and I-57 will be open wherever
possible.
IDOT and ISP also want to
remind drivers of Scott’s Law which was designed to protect emergency response
personnel and highway workers from unsafe drivers who are a risk to public
servants.
“Scott’s Law was enacted to
protect the people who put their lives at risk on Illinois roadways,” said
Director Trent. “The men and women who work to make our roadways safe
deserve to get home safely at the end of the day. We want to ensure we are
doing what we can to make this a happy and safe holiday for everyone.”
Scott’s Law requires motorists to yield to moving emergency vehicles, including
highway maintenance vehicles, displaying oscillating, rotating, or flashing
lights. In addition, Scott’s Law requires drivers to change lanes (if safe
to do so) or reduce speed and proceed with caution when approaching a stationary
emergency vehicle displaying flashing warning lights.
Scott’s Law was enacted in 2002 in memory of Lieutenant Scott Gillen of the
Chicago Fire Department who was struck and killed by an intoxicated driver on
the Dan Ryan Expressway while assisting at a crash scene.
Motorists are advised to check
IDOT’s website
www.gettingaroundillinois.com for information regarding road conditions and
updates on road construction. Interstate road condition information is
also available at 1-800-452-IDOT (4368).
Various construction zones
will be open for the Christmas Holiday from 3:00 pm, Friday, December 22 through
Midnight, Tuesday, December 26 and 3:00 pm, Friday, December 29 through
Midnight, Tuesday, January 2. However, due to the nature of some projects,
there will be construction zones throughout the state that will continue to
operate. IDOT is urging motorists to slow down and drive with caution
through these work zones. Holiday travelers are reminded that work zone
speed limits are still in effect.
Areas that will continue to
have lane closures are as follows:
Clay County:
US
Rt. 45, north of Louisville, widening and resurfacing project, detour road 2
miles north of Louisville both lanes open.
Coles County:
I-57 milepost 192, new interchange work, inside median shoulders closed.
Cook County:
Oak Park Ave- Widening and
Resurfacing in Oak Forest- SB Oak Park Ave closed
(Ridgeland Ave to 151st
Street) Justamere Road closed (143rd Street to 147th
Street)- Local Traffic only.
Bishop Ford- Reconstruction in
South Holland-2 lanes each direction from 159th to I-80. Ramp
from SB Ford to EB Kingery reduced to 1 lane. Ramp SB Ford (EB I-94) to WB
I-80/NB I-294 (TriState Tollway) closed with detour posted. Ramp from EB
159th
St. to EB I-94 closed with detour posted.
IL-394- Reconstruction in
Thornton/Lansing-1 lane in each direction between Glenwood-Lansing Rd. and I-80.
Ramp from WB I-80 to SB IL-394 will be closed with detour posted.
Kingery- Reconstruction in
Lansing/Thornton/South Holland/Hammond/Munster-2 lanes in each direction with
some narrow lanes and lane shifts from US 41 (Calumet Ave.) in Indiana to I-94.
Ramp from EB I-80/SB I-294 to WB I-94 (Bishop Ford) closed w/detour posted.
Ramp from WB I-80 to SB IL-394 will be closed with detour posted.
Grundy County:
Ashley Road over I-80 near Morris
Seneca Interchange at I-80, MP 105
Kane County:
US 20 (Lake St.) over the Fox River-Bridge repair
in Elgin- One lane in each direction.
North Avenue (IL 64) at Randall Rd.- widening,
resurfacing in St. Charles- One lane in each direction.
Lake County:
IL 22 (Half Day Rd.) from IL 83 Mundelein Rd. to
US 45/21- Roadway Reconstruction in Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, Lincolnshire- One
lane in each direction with turn lanes at intersections. Tight right turn
radius at Prairie Rd. & Main St. on IL 22. 90% of the project has been placed on
new pavement and the last 10% will be switched in late December. Motorist should
be aware of new lane configurations.
IL 22 West of US 12 to Buesching Rd- Roadway
widening and reconstruction in Lake Zurich- All lanes now open. Daytime lane
closures only east of Ela Road. Daytime lane closures on Il 22 west of Ela and
on US 12 held off until after the holidays.
IL 22 from Beusching to Quentin Rd.- Roadway
widening and reconstruction in Lake Zurich- One lane in each direction with turn
lanes at intersections. Traffic on new pavement west of Quentin Rd to east
project limits. Traffic switch to new pavement from west of Quentin to Buesching
Road scheduled week of December 18th.
IL 83 over the Wisconsin Central Ltd.
Railroad/EJE- New Bridge Deck in Lake Villa, Loon Lake, and Antioch- All lanes
currently open. Ongoing construction activity beneath and adjacent to bridge.
Daytime lane closures only when needed.
Madison County:
Staged construction utilizing
temporary traffic signals will be encountered along Illinois Route 143 just west
of Interstate 70. This lane restriction is necessary to replace the
existing bridge beams on the structure carrying Illinois Route 143 over Sugar
Creek. The project is expected to be completed by the Summer of 2007.
Marion County:
Staged construction utilizing
temporary traffic signals will be encountered on US Route 50 approximately 2
miles and 3 miles west of the Clay County line. These lane restrictions
are necessary to replace the bridges over Skillet Fork and Dums Creek.
Work on these structures is expected to be completed by the summer of 2007.
Saline County:
Illinois 34-1.7 miles north of
Harrisburg-Temporary Traffic signals. One lane open. Traffic is
controlled by signals.
Illinois 34-North edge of
Harrisburg- Temporary Traffic signals. One lane open. Traffic is
controlled by signals.
St. Clair County:
Eastbound I-55/70/64 ramp to
southbound Tudor Avenue is closed for deck repairs. Motorists traveling
eastbound on I-55/70/64 wanting to travel southbound to Tudor Avenue should
follow the marked detour to Fourth Street in East St. Louis. This ramp is
scheduled to be completed and opened by December 29, 2006.
Stage construction along Route
Illinois 157 near I-64 reducing the number of lanes from 2 to 1 lane in the
southbound direction will be in place until the fall of 2006.
Construction will be
encountered along Illinois Route 161 just south of Lincoln Trail in Fairview
Heights. Southbound traffic will be shifted into the northbound lane restricting
traffic to one lane in each direction. Concrete barrier wall will be used to
separate the north and southbound traffic across the existing bridge.
Staged construction utilizing
temporary traffic signals will be encountered along Illinois Route 158/177 just
east of North Green Mount Road near Belleville. This lane restriction is
necessary to replace the existing structure carrying Illinois Route 158/177 over
Loop Creek. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2007.
White County:
Illinois 14- 3.3 miles east of
Crossville- Temporary Traffic signals. One lane open. Traffic
is controlled by signals.
U.S. 45-1.5 miles south of Mill
Shoals- Temporary Traffic signals. One lane open. Traffic is
controlled by signals.
Will County:
US 30 from Essington to Larkin-
Reconstruction in Crest Hill and Joliet- One lane in each direction.
159th Street (US
Route 6) under CNRR Bridge-Bridge Reconstruction in Harvey- Road Closed between
Park Ave and Center Street.
I-55 from I80 to Weber Road-
Bridge and Interchange Reconstruction in Troy township- Occasional night time
lane closure for sign truss work.
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