Illinois interesting bid annoucements

[kphoger]

Item 206 installs a roundabout at the Cedar Road - Haven Avenue intersections in New Lenox.

I was wondering about this! I drive through this cumbersome intersection often. I was also curious if we were going to get another roundabout in Will County.  Utility and tree removal work are already well underway with this.

Sweet!  That's my (very) old stomping grounds.  I went to grade school (1st through 3rd) right there at that intersection.

My childhood home was where 4th Ave dead-ends at the tracks.  I also remember when Haven actually connected to Lincoln Hwy at its western end.

Oh yeah, and I remember there being a pay phone in the parking lot of the library at Cedar & 4th.  My friend and I once biked over and called the operator and spewed out all the dirty words we knew.  Then we called 911 and did the same thing.  We rode back to my house, changed our clothes (to disguise ourselves, of course), and went back again.  We told someone who was parked at the pay phone that the darned pay phone had eaten our quarter.  Her response:  "Oh you'd better get out of here, the cops are looking for you!"  Hoo boy, we high-tailed it out of there.

Then there was the time I got tired of stopping and looking both ways when crossing Cedar on 4th, because there was never anyone coming, so I just decided to not stop and look.  That made a driver slam on the brakes and do a screeching 180° (or more) in the middle of Cedar Road, and the bumper still came within probably a foot of me.  "You asshole!" he shouted out the window, but away I rode.  Man, it's amazing I survived childhood...

[Revive 755]

List of projects for the June 14, 2024 Letting is up.

• Item 1 replaces the Foster Avenue Bridge over I-90
• Item 2 seems to be resurfacing and bridge work on Ashland Avenue at I-290
• Item 4 seems to be a fiber and camera/ITS installation in northern Cook and in Lake County
• Item 10 is a signal modernization with pavement marking work somewhere on US 34/Ogden in Western Springs
• Item 12:  "House and garage demolition at William Dr 3.2 mi S of Galena and Lust cleanup at IL 35: SE of 4th St in East Dubuque"
• Item 21 is an advance tree removal contract for I-39 between Mulford Road and north of the US 20/Harrison Street interchange
• Items 31 and 32 are flashing beacon installations in District 3. Itm 31 is focused on IL 23 south of DeKalb.
• Item 33 is patching and ADA work for the rest area on NB I-55 just south of Pontiac
• Item 34 is joint replacement for the I-39 bridge over the Illinois River (at the same time I-55 over the Des Plaines near Joliet is scheduled for work?)
• Item 35:  "Class A pavement patching on FAI 57 beginning at MM 285.5, 2.5 miles north of US 24 (Gilman Interchange) and ending at MM 293.5, 0.64 mile north of IL 116 (Ashkum Interchange)"
• Item 42 is a various location traffic signal equipment replacement contract for District 4
• Item 44 is lighting upgrades for the I-74/I-155 interchange
• Item 49 is for signal modernization at the IL 9 intersection with Towanda Barnes Road
• Item 83:  "Bridge demolition on Old US 51 over East Fork Kaskaskia Overflow, 5 miles north of Sandoval"
• Item 87 is improvements for the IL 3/IL 157 intersection
• Item 105 is something with intersection improvements on East Avenue in Brookfield, LaGrange, and McCook
• Item 107 is rehabiliation work for the Cass Avenue Des Plaines River Bridge in Joliet
• Item 109 is joint work and an overlay for the IL 126 bridge over the DuPage River
• Item 111 is something with signal work and left turn lanes for the IL 7/Renwick Road/IL 53 intersection
• Item 113 is 695 feet of patching and resurfacing for various locations in Schaumburg along I-290
• Item 114 is intersection improvements for Roberts Road at 111th Street in Palos Hills
• Item 115 is a repost of the Randall Road improvements between Ackman Road and Polaris Drive in McHerny County
• Item 123 is a various location trombone mast arm replacement project for District 1
• Item 126 is for work on the Kankakee River bridges on IL 1/IL 17 in Momence
• Item 140 seems to be a repost for the I-55 Sangamon River bridges
• Item 191 is resurfacing with lots of other work for I-255 between IL 157 and IL 15
• Item 192 is signal moderinzation along IL 159 in Swansea and Farview Heights with some work along I-64
• Item 193 widens around 6 miles of I-57 south of the southern I-64 interchange
• Item 205 converts the US 20/Reinking Road intersection around Pingree Grove into a roundabout
• Item 212 converts the Lucinda Avenue/Normal Road intersection in DeKalb into a roundabout
• Item 223 seems to be a repost for improvements to the IL 83/Bluff Road intersection
• Item 229 is some sort of improvements with bridge work on US 20 between Shales Parkway and Grace Street in Elgin
• Item 230 is signal improvements, ADA improvements, and changeable message sign installation on IL 64 between York Road and IL 50
• Item 231 is signal improvements, ADA improvements, and changeable message sign installation on IL 56 between IL 59 and York Road

[Rick Powell]

Speaking of Item 2, we wil be seeing a lot of overhead bridges being repaired or replaced over I-290 between I-294 and the Jane Byrne interchange over the next several years.

[edwaleni]

"Item 83:  "Bridge demolition on Old US 51 over East Fork Kaskaskia Overflow, 5 miles north of Sandoval"

I had to go look it up because I didn't realize there was any of Old-51 left north of Sandoval.

It's buried under the trees, but still there.

[ilpt4u]

• Item 193 widens around 6 miles of I-57 south of the southern I-64 interchange

When 57 is fully 6-laned between 24 and 64, I may start using it to head north again. This is another step in that direction!

Until then, IL 127, US 51, IL 13, US 45, and IL 1 are my friends

[Revive 755]

There's a few studies of note in the most recent notice for consultant services:  https://idot.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idot/documents/doing-business/bulletins-and-circulars/highways/design-and-environment/ptb-212/PTB%20212.pdf

• Item 41 (Page 121/227) seems to be for a study of improving either IL 15 between I-255 and I-55 or Bond Avenue (old IL 13) between IL 163 and 8th Street (no Queeny Avenue/Curtis-Steinberg Road/Sauget Business Boulevard option?)
  
• Item 45 (Page 132/227) is construction engineering for more work on I-24 over the Ohio River
• Item 47 (Page 138/227) is for a NEPA study of the Southwest Illinois Connector (listed as IL 3, IL 154, and IL 13/IL 127)

[edwaleni]

Item 47 (Page 138/227) is for a NEPA study of the Southwest Illinois Connector (listed as IL 3, IL 154, and IL 13/IL 127)

If this actually finishes, it will be an interesting read.

If the NEPA finds "too much environmental harm" for this route, I will laugh forever because this part of Illinois has been so abused for coal mining since the 1860's. IL-EPA still licenses strip & underground coal mines in this part of the state.

[ilpt4u]

Item 47 (Page 138/227) is for a NEPA study of the Southwest Illinois Connector (listed as IL 3, IL 154, and IL 13/IL 127)

If this actually finishes, it will be an interesting read.

If the NEPA finds "too much environmental harm" for this route, I will laugh forever because this part of Illinois has been so abused for coal mining since the 1860's. IL-EPA still licenses strip & underground coal mines in this part of the state.

Multiple active mines in this area that I know of. Heck one is on the direct route of following IL 154 west from Pinckneyville.

Pretty sure Pyramid State Park is at least partially an old coal mine (feel free to fact-check that as I could be wrong), and it is in this area

[edwaleni]

From our friends at Wikipedia:

In 1959, the Pyramid Coal Company ceased mining operations, and 924 acres (374 ha) of former coal-mining property soon entered state hands, being owned and used by Southern Illinois University for research into the rehabilitation of strip-mined coal properties. In 1968, a predecessor of Illinois DNR acquired this parcel of land, and continued the rehabilitation process of the parcel as a new natural area, at first named Pyramid State Park. After further land acquisition the new state park contained approximately 3,200 acres (1,300 ha) of open space. In 2001, Illinois DNR acquired 16,245 acres (6,574 ha) of additional reclaimed land from a separate coal company, forming the largest portion of the new Pyramid State Recreation Area



I might add that Indiana has been testing a strip mining concept where the topsoil  is stripped off the top and stored offsite until the coal has been claimed. Instead of simply leaving mounds of tailings behind, they use it as a new clay layer and after a couple of seasons of settlement, the topsoil is brought back and spread out across the former mine.

[triplemultiplex]

If the NEPA finds "too much environmental harm" for this route, I will laugh forever because this part of Illinois has been so abused for coal mining since the 1860's. IL-EPA still licenses strip & underground coal mines in this part of the state.

By that logic, we should trash every place on Earth that was already abused by human activity.  Treat already disadvantaged areas of the planet like a cheap whore.  Great idea...

Say what you will about the often cumbersome red tape created by the whole EIS processes, but this line of reasoning fails on its face.
"This neighborhood is already blighted, it won't matter if we build the freeway thru there."
Same mentality.

[edwaleni]

If the NEPA finds "too much environmental harm" for this route, I will laugh forever because this part of Illinois has been so abused for coal mining since the 1860's. IL-EPA still licenses strip & underground coal mines in this part of the state.

By that logic, we should trash every place on Earth that was already abused by human activity.  Treat already disadvantaged areas of the planet like a cheap whore.  Great idea...

Say what you will about the often cumbersome red tape created by the whole EIS processes, but this line of reasoning fails on its face.
"This neighborhood is already blighted, it won't matter if we build the freeway thru there."
Same mentality.

I was exemplifying the irony of the government and regulations, not trying to make a social statement about "disadvantanged" areas of the globe. Goodness, go back to bed and get some more sleep!

[Great Lakes Roads]

• Item 193 widens around 6 miles of I-57 south of the southern I-64 interchange

When 57 is fully 6-laned between 24 and 64, I may start using it to head north again. This is another step in that direction!

Until then, IL 127, US 51, IL 13, US 45, and IL 1 are my friends

Looking at the plans, the NB lanes on I-57 will go down from 3 to 2 when approaching the southern I-64 interchange with a wide shoulder on the left (assuming that IDOT has plans to reconstruct the bridges at the southern I-64 interchange to add a third lane NB).[/list]

[Brandon]

• Item 193 widens around 6 miles of I-57 south of the southern I-64 interchange

When 57 is fully 6-laned between 24 and 64, I may start using it to head north again. This is another step in that direction!

Until then, IL 127, US 51, IL 13, US 45, and IL 1 are my friends

Looking at the plans, the NB lanes on I-57 will go down from 3 to 2 when approaching the southern I-64 interchange with a wide shoulder on the left (assuming that IDOT has plans to reconstruct the bridges at the southern I-64 interchange to add a third lane NB).[/list]

Typical IDOT, losing the lane prior to the interchange where they could properly drop the lane.  They did this on I-55 southbound one mile before Weber Road, causing backups that went as far as the Ryan some days.  They did this again on I-80 westbound just before US-30 in New Lenox, causing backups that went back to I-355.  They still haven't learned their lesson to maintain the lane far enough to drop it properly.

[Revive 755]

List of projects for the August 2, 2024 Letting is up.

• Item 1 is the Randall Road reconstruction and widening in McHenry County (maybe it actually makes it to the bid opening this time?)
• Item 5:  "Construction of a Open-spandrel arch ridge with cast-in-place concrete deck and bituminous overlay on Lake Road over an unamed ravine in Lake Forest."
• Item 8 is bridge repairs and ITS for the outbound Kennedy from around Hubbard's Cave to the Edens
• Item 14:  "Toll Plaza 31 Relocation Kennedy Express (I-90) to I-190 WB Ramp to Airport in Rosemont, Illinois"
• Item 16 is another repost for the US 20 safety improvements on the eastern edge of East Dubuque
• Item 38 is resurfacing with ADA and signal upgrades on IL 1/IL 15 in Mount Carmel.
• Item 39 is intersection improvements for the IL 4/IL 150 intersection
• Item 61 appears to be the contract to switch the I-270 interchange with IL 111 from a cloverleaf to a DDI
• Item 62 (already deleted) would have traffic signal and railroad interconnect work on IL 37 in Marion
• Item 70 is a repost of the traffic signal work along IL 159 in Fairview Heights and Swansea

[edwaleni]

List of projects for the August 2, 2024 Letting is up.

• Item 61 appears to be the contract to switch the I-270 interchange with IL 111 from a cloverleaf to a DDI

This makes sense as all of the truck traffic to the Gateway Commerce Center & Alton has shifted to IL-255.

[Revive 755]

List of projects for the September 20, 2024 Letting is up

• Item 3 is for reconstruction the I-80 interchange with IL 7
• Item 4 modifies the I-55/I-80 interchange, including the new ramp for SB I-55 to EB I-80
• Item 11 is ITS work for the Edens Expressway
• Item 15 is an intersection improvement project somewhere on IL 43 "in Unincorporated Cook County, Orland Park, Oak Forest and Palos Heights."
• Item 31:  "Building demolition at four locations along Main Street between Cedar and Ravine Streets in East Peoria."
• Item 49 (already deleted) would have been "Intersection reconstruction on IL 3 at Delmar Lane and at Pierce Lane, both in Godfrey."
• Item 51 is intersection improvements for IL 111/IL 140 at Fosterburg Road.
• Item 52:  "Bridge demolition of SN 003-0041 carrying Old IL 127 over Beaver Creek in Greenville."
• Item 58 is an advance tree removal contract where IL 157 and IL 162 meet.
• Item 60 appears to be a major rehab with median crossovers for the I-24 Ohio River Bridge.  It has a completion date listed of 9/1/2027.
• Item 75 seems to be a relet for the IL 162/Keelber Road roundabout.
• Item 85 is signal modernization at various locations on US 34 and for IL 59 at Main Street in Barrington.

[edwaleni]

• Item 52:  "Bridge demolition of SN 003-0041 carrying Old IL 127 over Beaver Creek in Greenville."

I remember being on this bridge just before I-70 was built. When I-70 was built IL-127 was moved to the east but still connected to US-40 at the same spot. There is a Shell station at the SW corner of IL-127 and US-40 which was there back in 1966. Modernized significantly since then.

The bridge was left behind because there are several residents on the south side of Beaver Creek who still needed access. So IDOT built a turnout roughly where the Best Western is today.  When Love's built their truck stop, they put in a new turn out (Spur Road) and the bridge became redundant. The former turnout was removed and the bridge was closed.

I am surprised it took IDOT this long to get it removed after they closed it.

[Brandon]

List of projects for the September 20, 2024 Letting is up

• Item 85 is signal modernization at various locations on US 34 and for IL 59 at Main Street in Barrington.

US-34 and IL-59 don't cross in Barrington.  They cross in Aurora/Naperville.  Did IDOT get the municipality wrong, or is this for a different intersection up in Barrington?

[CtrlAltDel]

List of projects for the September 20, 2024 Letting is up

• Item 85 is signal modernization at various locations on US 34 and for IL 59 at Main Street in Barrington.

US-34 and IL-59 don't cross in Barrington.

It doesn't say that they do, although I can see why someone would think so.

The full description is:

This project consists of pavement marking and traffic signal modernization on US 34 at Ogden Avenue in the Village of Western Springs and unincorporated Proviso Township; US 34 at Saratoga Avenue and US 34 at Main Street in Downers Grove and on IL 59 at Main Street in Barrington. The project is located in Various Counties.

[edwaleni]

Reportedly IDOT issued 2 emergency bid requests today for a "catastrophic failure" of a bridge joint between the Musial Bridge and the regular highway.

Bid 1 was for fabrication of a new joint and bid 2 was to install it.

[jnewkirk77]

Reportedly IDOT issued 2 emergency bid requests today for a "catastrophic failure" of a bridge joint between the Musial Bridge and the regular highway.

Bid 1 was for fabrication of a new joint and bid 2 was to install it.

KTVI's report, which indicates that other similar expansion joints on the bridge are also near failure and will be replaced under contracts once this one is done. No timeline for reopening, yet.

EDIT: This is on the ramp from I-70 EB (coming off the bridge into Illinois) to I-64 EB, NOT the bridge itself. However, by my understanding of the story this will likely mean other ramps/parts of the bridge will have to close or be restricted for repairs when those are ready to be done.

[CtrlAltDel]

For the record, the closed area is here:


I had imagined it being closer to the river.

[ilpt4u]

Its the typical route for traffic from the airport to Southern IL. Single lane flyover at the closest thing IDOT has to a Full Stack in Illinois in East St Louis. This is a "straight thru" movement but is a single lane ramp to change from 70EB to 64EB. The interchange doesn't include the west-facing movements as those are handled in Missouri across the river so not a Full Stack

The official detour is following 55/70 to 255 and then down to 64. Unofficial detour is exit on IL 3 Spur/Packers Ave (1st IL exit east of the Mississippi), take the Plank Ave jughandle down to IL 3/St Clair Ave and reenter at the 64 Exit 3 EB RIRO to parallel St Clair Ave. 1 stoplight and 1 round-about on the St Clair detour. Another unofficial detour is continuing on I-44 past the 70 TOTSO for the Musial Bridge and take the exit for the MLK Bridge to enter 64 EB in IL. 1 stoplight at the end of the 44 ramp to the MLK Bridge on this detour also

[jnewkirk77]

I had imagined it being closer to the river.

Same here. The video honestly threw me off.

It doesn't seem to have drastically impacted traffic, which is good news.

[edwaleni]

Seems this is the joint in question. IDOT started getting calls from drivers reporting metal sticking up in the air and drivers dodging it. Looks like its been having some issues.