Illinois notes

[Revive 755]

There's a billboard for the Houbolt Road Toll Bridge on the right side of southbound I-55 a little south of IL 126.  IIRC the billboard said 'coming early 2023'.

[paulthemapguy]

There's a billboard for the Houbolt Road Toll Bridge on the right side of southbound I-55 a little south of IL 126.  IIRC the billboard said 'coming early 2023'.

Another such billboard has been sitting on the south side of I-80 near Richards Street (exit 133).  The bridge really is on track to open sometime in the spring.  If you walk to the end of the trail at the Rock Run Rookery, you can see the bridge off in the distance over the river.

[ET21]

Big construction project was announced for the Kennedy in Chicago (I-90/94), starts this March and will last 3 seasons with 3 phases. Phase 1 is inbound (east), Phase 2 is express lanes, Phase 3 is outbound (west)
https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/3-year-kennedy-expressway-construction-project-to-begin-in-march/

[Revive 755]

Would have been nice if this could have waited until the Tri-State is done north of I-55. Bad enough there's supposed to be more bridge work on I-355 again this year.

[JoePCool14]

Big construction project was announced for the Kennedy in Chicago (I-90/94), starts this March and will last 3 seasons with 3 phases. Phase 1 is inbound (east), Phase 2 is express lanes, Phase 3 is outbound (west)
https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/3-year-kennedy-expressway-construction-project-to-begin-in-march/

Proud to say I actually played a part in the design work on this project. Not a huge amount, but more than I could've really ever said before!

Unfortunately, I do think this is going to cause a mess for people driving on the north side. Will be interesting to see how bad backups spill up north and west.

[JREwing78]

Big construction project was announced for the Kennedy in Chicago (I-90/94), starts this March and will last 3 seasons with 3 phases. Phase 1 is inbound (east), Phase 2 is express lanes, Phase 3 is outbound (west)
https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/3-year-kennedy-expressway-construction-project-to-begin-in-march/

Proud to say I actually played a part in the design work on this project. Not a huge amount, but more than I could've really ever said before!

Unfortunately, I do think this is going to cause a mess for people driving on the north side. Will be interesting to see how bad backups spill up north and west.

For the last few years, I could occasionally get across Chicago faster using I-90 through downtown v.s. the Tri-State. Looks like that's not happening for a while.

[SSOWorld]

Of course - they don't communicate at all with ISTHA.

[adt1982]

IDOT just shared this at 4:00.

The US 60/62 bridge over the Mississippi River at Cairo is closed to traffic after a routine inspection found critical issues. It will remain closed until repairs can be made. A detour will be posted.

[paulthemapguy]

IDOT just shared this at 4:00.

The US 60/62 bridge over the Mississippi River at Cairo is closed to traffic after a routine inspection found critical issues. It will remain closed until repairs can be made. A detour will be posted.

Ruh Roh.  Glad I survived driving across it a month ago! I waited since July 2008 to revisit that bridge, and I'm glad I didn't wait another month beyond what I did!

[ilpt4u]

IDOT just shared this at 4:00.

The US 60/62 bridge over the Mississippi River at Cairo is closed to traffic after a routine inspection found critical issues. It will remain closed until repairs can be made. A detour will be posted.

At least the MS River Cairo bridge has redundancy with the I-57 bridge. The OH River Cairo bridge...well at least IDOT and KYTC have a plan to replace it

[hobsini2]

IDOT just shared this at 4:00.

The US 60/62 bridge over the Mississippi River at Cairo is closed to traffic after a routine inspection found critical issues. It will remain closed until repairs can be made. A detour will be posted.

At least the MS River Cairo bridge has redundancy with the I-57 bridge. The OH River Cairo bridge...well at least IDOT and KYTC have a plan to replace it

Last time I used the Ohio River Cairo Bridge, it was down to 1 lane with a signal controlling the traffic on the bridge. That was 3 years ago.

[edwaleni]

Big construction project was announced for the Kennedy in Chicago (I-90/94), starts this March and will last 3 seasons with 3 phases. Phase 1 is inbound (east), Phase 2 is express lanes, Phase 3 is outbound (west)
https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/3-year-kennedy-expressway-construction-project-to-begin-in-march/

Proud to say I actually played a part in the design work on this project. Not a huge amount, but more than I could've really ever said before!

Unfortunately, I do think this is going to cause a mess for people driving on the north side. Will be interesting to see how bad backups spill up north and west.

United Airlines says they are starting a VTOL air service from the Loop to O'Hare using new electric aircraft. They were timing the announcement to the long planned Kennedy rebuild.

$100/each way. About the same as a Uber Black.

[hobsini2]

Since Spring Break is next week for most people, here is a current list of existing road construction projects and closures in Illinois that could impact travel.
Southern Illinois including Alton, Carbondale, East St Louis, Effingham, Marion, Mattoon, Mt Vernon, Paris, Taylorville & Vandalia

Interstates:
I-24 MM 13 to 24 (Johnson, Massac) - Lane reduction
I-24 at Exit 14 US 45 (Johnson) - Exit ramp from WB I-24 and entrance ramp to WB I-24 CLOSED
I-24 at Exit 16 ILL 146 (Johnson) - ALL EXIT and ENTRANCE ramps are CLOSED
I-24 MM 26 to 28 (Massac) - Lane reduction or closure
I-24 Ohio River Bridge (Massac) - Lane reduction or closure
I-55 at Exit 10A-B I-255 (Madison) - NB I-55 to I-255 ramps - Lane reduction or closure
I-55 MM 61 to 72 (Montgomery) - Lane reduction or closure
I-57 MM 0 to 21 (Alexander, Pulaski) - Lane reduction or closure
I-57 MM 50 to 56 (Williamson) - Lane reduction or closure
I-57 at Exit 53 Main St Marion (Williamson) - Entrance ramp to SB I-57 CLOSED
I-57 MM 66 to 75 (Franklin) - Lane reduction or closure
I-57 MM 96 (Jefferson) - Lane reduction or closure
I-57 MM 102 to 104 (Jefferson) - Lane reduction or closure
I-57 MM 106 to 110 (Marion) - Lane reduction or closure
I-57 at Exit 109 ILL 161 (Marion) - NB I-57 Exit ramp and Entrance ramp CLOSED
I-57 MM 123 to 125 (Marion) - Lane reduction or closure
I-57 MM 129 to 130 (Marion) - Lane reduction or closure
I-57/70 MM 157 to 159 (Effingham) - Lane reduction or closure
I-57 at Exit 157 I-70 West (Effingham) - Ramp from NB I-57 to WB I-70 CLOSED
I-57 MM 197 (Coles) - Lane reduction or closure
I-64 MM 62 (Jefferson) - Lane reduction or closure
I-64 MM 103 to 110 (Wayne) - Lane reduction or closure
I-64 (White) - Wabash River Bridge - Lane reduction or closure
I-70 at MM 27 (Madison) - Lane reduction or closure
I-70 MM 64 to 65 (Fayette) - Lane reduction or closure
I-70 MM 98 to 106 (Effingham) - Lane reduction or closure
I-70 at Exit 105 Montrose (Effingham) - EB I-70 Exit ramp and Entrance ramp CLOSED
I-70 MM 124 to 125 (Cumberland) - Lane reduction or closure
I-70 MM 130 to 136 (Clark) - Lane reduction or closure
I-255 (Monroe) - Mississippi River Bridge - Weight restrictions
I-255 at Exit 19 State St (St Clair) - Exit ramp from SB I-255 and Entrance ramp to SB I-255 CLOSED
I-255 at Exit 25A I-55 (Madison) - NB I-255 to NB I-55 ramp CLOSED
I-255 at Exit 25B I-55 (Madison) - SB I-255 to SB I-55 ramp - Lane reduction or closure
I-270 (Madison) - Mississippi River Bridge - Lane reduction or closure
I-270 MM 10 to 11 (Madison) - Lane reduction or closure

US & State Highways:
US 40 (Madison) - ILL 4 to Woodcrest Dr Highland - Lane reduction or closure
US 40 (Bond) - Ridge Ave Greenville to Fayette Co Line - Lane reduction or closure
US 40 (Fayette) - RR crossing at Mulberry Grove CLOSED
US 40 (Fayette) - County 100 to County 200 - Road CLOSED
US 40 (Effingham) - Little Wabash Creek Bridge - Lane reduction or closure
US 40 (Clark) - East Mill Creek Bridge CLOSED
US 45 (Massac) - Ohio River Bridge - Width & weight restrictions
US 45 (Saline) - Saline River Bridge - Lane width reduction
US 45 (White) - ILL 141 to ILL 1 - Road CLOSED
US 45 (Effingham) - US 40 to I-57 - One way traffic with flaggers
US 50 (Clay) - US 45 West JCT to Heather Ln - Lane reduction or closure
US 50 (Richland) - Clay Rd to Suntone Rd - Lane reduction or closure
US 50 (Lawrence) - Wabash River Bridge - Lane reduction or closure
US 51 (Fayette) - Hickory Creek Bridge - One way traffic with signals
US 51/60/62 (Alexander) - Ohio River Bridge - Lane reduction or closure
US 60/62 (Alexander) - Mississippi River Bridge CLOSED
US 67 (Madison) - Little Piasa Creek Bridge - One way traffic with signals
ILL 1 (Lawrence) - Big Slough Bridge - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 1 (Lawrence) - Orchard St Lawrenceville to Charles St Lawrenceville - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 3 (Randolph) - Water St Chester to Pleasant Ridge Rd - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 3 (Monroe) - Gilmore Lake Rd to I-255 - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 3 (St Clair) - 8th St E St Louis to 4th St E St Louis - Weight restrictions
ILL 3 (Madison) - Entrance ramps to I-270 WEST - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 13 (Gallatin) - Ohio River Bridge - Weight restrictions
ILL 14 (Franklin) - Thompsonville Rd to Ewing Rd - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 14 (White) - Wabash River Bridge CLOSED
ILL 29 (Christian) - E Main Cross St to Kennedy Dr Taylorville - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 33 SPUR/Vigo St Bridge (Lawrence) - Wabash River Bridge CLOSED
ILL 34 (Franklin) - Brown St to ILL 37 - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 49 (Edgar) - Catfish Creek Bridge - One way traffic with signals
ILL 111 (Madison) - US 67 to IL 267 - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 127 (Washington) - Locust Creek Bridge - One way traffic with signals
ILL 128 (Effingham) - Mocassin Creek Bridge CLOSED
ILL 141 (White) - Wabash River Bridge - Weight restrictions
ILL 143 (Madison) - US 67 to ILL 3 - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 145 (Pope) - Bay Creek Bridge - One way traffic with signals
ILL 146 (Pope) - Sugar Creek Bridge - One way traffic with signals
ILL 149 (Jackson) - Kinkaid Creek Bridge - One way traffic with signals
ILL 149 (Franklin) - I-57 to Douglas St West Frankfort - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 150 (Randolph) - Mississippi River Bridge - Weight restrictions
ILL 157 (St Clair) - Pocket Rd to Bluff St - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 159 (Madison) - Country Ln to Governors Pkwy - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 160 (Madison) - US 40 to John St Grantfork - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 161 (St Clair) - Josephine Dr to YMCA Dr - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 162 (Madison) - Old Edwardsville Rd to I-255 - One way traffic with signals
ILL 163 (St Clair) - Concordia Church Rd to Cemetary Rd - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 185 (Fayette) - Montgomery Co Line to US 40 - Lane reduction or closure

Other:
26th St E St Louis (St Clair) - RR Bridge - Weight restrictions
N 2600th St (Clark) - Bridge over I-70 CLOSED
Eads Bridge (St Clair) - Mississippi River Bridge - Weight restrictions
I-55 East Frontage Rd (Montgomery) - E Waggoner Ave to Morrisonville Ave - Road CLOSED
I-55 East Frontage Rd (Montgomery) - Mine Ave to Thomasville - Road CLOSED
I-55 East Frontage Rd (Montgomery) - Virden Ave to Montgomery Rd - Road CLOSED
Main St Belleville (St Clair) - N 48th St to North Belt West - Lane reduction or closure
Marine Rd (Madison) - Lake Rd to Hickory Flat Rd CLOSED due to FLOODING
Morrisonville Ave (Montgomery) - Bridge over I-55 CLOSED
Old US 51 (Union, Jackson) - Anna to Makanda Rd - One way traffic with flaggers and signals

Central Illinois (Bloomington, Champaign, Decatur, Galesburg, Moline, Peoria, Quincy, Springfield) will be next.

Northern Illinois (Aurora, Chicago, Dixon, Elgin, Galena, Joliet, Kankakee, La Salle, Princeton, Rockford, Sterling, Waukegan) will be after that.

[paulthemapguy]

United Airlines says they are starting a VTOL air service from the Loop to O'Hare using new electric aircraft. They were timing the announcement to the long planned Kennedy rebuild.

$100/each way. About the same as a Uber Black.

Oh man, they could have had a use for Meigs Field if they left it intact!!

[skluth]

United Airlines says they are starting a VTOL air service from the Loop to O'Hare using new electric aircraft. They were timing the announcement to the long planned Kennedy rebuild.

$100/each way. About the same as a Uber Black.

Oh man, they could have had a use for Meigs Field if they left it intact!!

The second Mayor Daley made sure that never happened. Personally, I'm fine with Meigs Field gone.

[Rick Powell]

Personally, I'm fine with Meigs Field gone.

VTOL doesn't need an airstrip the size of Meigs, and especially at that location since it would be several blocks away from where people want to go. They could probably use one of the many parking decks in the Loop proper, upper deck re-purposed.

[triplemultiplex]

They so fancy with their acronyms; VTOL = helicopter.

[Rick Powell]

They so fancy with their acronyms; VTOL = helicopter.

Technically, VTOLs fall under the Webster definition of helicopter except that VTOLs often have variable pitch rotors that can go anywhere between horizontal and vertical axes.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/helicopter

[hobsini2]

Central Illinois including Bloomington, Champaign, Decatur, Galesburg, Moline, Peoria, Quincy, Springfield

Interstates:
I-55 MM 77 to 111 (Sangamon) - Lane reduction or closure
Bus I-55 (Sangamon) - Sangamon Ave to Ardmore Ave - Lane reduction or closure
I-55 MM 114 (Logan) - Lane reduction or closure
I-55 MM 123 (Logan) - Lane reduction or closure
I-55 MM 185 to MM 190 (McLean, Livingston) - Lane reduction or closure
I-55 MM 193 (Livingston) - Lane reduction or closure
I-57 MM 236 to 237 (Champaign) - Lane reduction or closure
I-57 at Exit 237 A I-74 EAST (Champaign) - SB I-57 to EB I-74 ramp CLOSED
I-57 at Exit 237 B I-74 WEST (Champaign) - NB I-57 to WB I-74 ramp CLOSED
I-57 MM 269 (Iroquois) - Lane reduction or closure
I-72 MM 6 to 7 (Pike) - Lane reduction or closure
I-72 MM 15 to 16 (Pike) - Lane reduction or closure
I-72 MM 55 to 59 (Morgan) - Lane reduction or closure
I-72 MM 78 to 123 (Sangamon) - Lane reduction or closure
I-72 at I-57 (Champaign) - Weight restrictions
I-74 (Rock Island) - Over Mississippi River - Weight restrictions
I-74 MM 124 (McLean) - Lane reduction or closure
I-74 MM 177 to 180 (Champaign) - Lane reduction or closure
I-74 at Exit 179 A-B I-57 (Champaign) - Ramps to I-57 North and South Lane reduction or closure
I-74 MM 184 (Champaign) - Lane reduction or closure
I-74 MM 210 to MM 214 (Vermillion) - Lane reduction or closure
I-74 at Exit 214 G St (Vermillion) - I-74 EB entrance and I-74 WB entrance ramps are CLOSED
I-74 at Exit 215 A-B US 150/ILL 1 (Vermillion) - I-74 WB Exit ramp to and Entrance ramp from are CLOSED
I-80 MM 7 (Henry) - Lane reduction or closure
I-155 MM 18 (Tazwell) - Lane reduction or closure
I-280 (Rock Island) - Mississippi River Bridge - Lane reduction or closure
I-280 MM 11 to 15 (Rock Island) - Lane reduction or closure
I-474 MM 3 (Peoria) - Lane reduction or closure

US & State Highways:
US 24 (Adams) - Mississippi River Bridge - Weight restrictions
US 34 (Warren) - Cedar Creek Bridge - Lane reduction or closure
US 36 (Macon, Moultrie) - ILL 121 to ILL 32 - Lane reduction or closure
US 36 (Moultrie) - 900 East Rd to 1800 East Rd - Lane reduction or closure
US 45 (Champaign) - Saline Branch Bridge - Weight restrictions
US 45 (Iroquois) - US 24 to E 2200 N Rd - Lane reduction or closure
US 67 (Cass, Schuyler) - Illinois River Bridge - Weight restrictions
US 51/Bus US 51 (Macon) - US 51 to Cleveland Ave Decatur - Lane reduction or closure
US 51 (Macon) - Northbound at US 36 - Lane reduction or closure
US 54 (Pike) - Mississippi River Bridge - Weight restrictions
US 67 (Mercer) - 260th Ave to ILL 135 - Lane reduction or closure
US 136 (Hancock) - RR Bridge at Hamilton - Lane reduction or closure
US 136 (Mason, Fulton) - Illinois River Bridge - Weight restrictions
US 150 (Knox) - Cedar St Galesburg to Cherry St Galesburg - Lane reduction or closure
US 150 (Knox) - at County 10 - Weight restrictions
US 150 (Peoria, Tazwell) - Illinois River Bridge - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 1 (Iroquois) - Iroquois St Watseka to 2500 N Rd - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 4 (Sangamon) - Sugar Creek Bridge - One way traffic with signals
ILL 8 (Knox) - Hickory Creek Bridge - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 9 (Hancock) - Mississippi River Bridge - Weight and height restrictions
ILL 9 (Ford) - N 2000 E Rd to Vermillion Co Line - One way traffic with flaggers
ILL 17 (Marshall) - Illinois River Bridge - CLOSED
ILL 18 (Marshall, Putnam) - Illinois River Bridge - Weight restrictions
ILL 32 (Moultrie) - ILL 121 to ILL 133 - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 40 (Peoria, Tazwell) - Illinois River Bridge - CLOSED
ILL 48 (Macon) - Christian Co Line to Bowman Rd - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 84 (Henry, Rock Island) - Rock River Bridge - Weight restrictions
ILL 96 (Hancock) - Rocky Run Creek Bridge - One way traffic with signals
ILL 97 (Mason) - Menard Co Line to Co Rd 900 North - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 104 (Morgan) - Gordon Hill Rd to Llama Rd - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 105 (Macon) - Lake Decatur Bridge - Lane reduction or closure
ILL 106 (Pike) - Kiser Creek Bridge - One way traffic with signals
ILL 106 (Scott) - Old Highway Rd to Timber Ln - Road CLOSED
ILL 121 (Macon) - RR Bridge - Weight restrictions

Other:
Kennedy Rd (Logan) - Over I-55 - Bridge CLOSED
27th St Moline (Rock Island) - Over I-74 - Lane reduction or closure
Old US 45 (Iroquois) - 3rd Ave Clifton to 1st St Chabanse - Lane reduction or closure

[edwaleni]

They so fancy with their acronyms; VTOL = helicopter.

Technically, VTOLs fall under the Webster definition of helicopter except that VTOLs often have variable pitch rotors that can go anywhere between horizontal and vertical axes.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/helicopter

The service will rely on Vertiport Chicago for the places to land. The presser said United will use the "Medical District"  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Medical_District for the service.

https://www.vertiportchicago.com/

[triplemultiplex]

Ah, I see; for the cash-chucker too self-important to ride the EL to downtown, but too self-hating to take a regular helicopter powered by dead dinosaurs.



(I say dead dinosaurs for comedic effect, I'm well aware that petroleum is mostly former microorganisms. )

[Revive 755]

The list of selected projects for freight grants is out:  https://idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Reports/OP&P/2023_Freight_Investment_Plan.pdf

There's an $8.75 million interchange project listed for I-57 at IL 50 on the second page.

[ilpt4u]

The list of selected projects for freight grants is out:  https://idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Reports/OP&P/2023_Freight_Investment_Plan.pdf

There's an $8.75 million interchange project listed for I-57 at IL 50 on the second page.

I'm more curious what the $24.7 million interchange project is for with I-57 at IL 149 in West Frankfort

[kphoger]

The list of selected projects for freight grants is out:  https://idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Reports/OP&P/2023_Freight_Investment_Plan.pdf

There's an $8.75 million interchange project listed for I-57 at IL 50 on the second page.

I'm more curious what the $24.7 million interchange project is for with I-57 at IL 149 in West Frankfort

Me too.  I haven't lived there since 2008, but I don't recall the interchange being all that bad.  Traffic counts are approximately the same as the similar interchange at West City/Benton.

[Hobart]

The list of selected projects for freight grants is out:  https://idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Reports/OP&P/2023_Freight_Investment_Plan.pdf

There's an $8.75 million interchange project listed for I-57 at IL 50 on the second page.

Thank god! I used to get off at the cloverleaf at 167th Street (and Cicero Avenue, by extension) every day on the way home from work, and the left turn lane to southbound Cicero Avenue (Illinois 50) is so short that the volume of left turning cars would regularly block one of the travel lanes. Here's hoping they widen that.

Part of this might also be because somebody bought out the car dealer on the corner, and a large amount of property behind it, and mowed it all down for future development. I hope it goes well for them, because some of that property tax revenue is gonna end up in my high school's district fund!