Illinois notes

Started by mgk920, September 12, 2012, 02:19:57 PM

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paulthemapguy

I received this IDOT bulletin in an email today.  Basically, bridge deck work on the I-80 "bridge from hell" (as I call it) in Joliet will take place on weekends for the rest of the warm season.  AND take note of the last part-- reconstruction of I-80 from Minooka to New Lenox, including the bridge, is tentatively slated to begin in three years (I assume that's 2023).

QuoteThe Illinois Department of Transportation announces that bridge deck patching with joint repairs on Interstate 80 in Joliet will require weekend lane and ramp closures beginning Friday, July 17.

The work is expected to take place, weather permitting, from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday over eight consecutive weekends, excluding Labor Day weekend. The first stage of the project will require lane closures on both sides of I-80 from Center Street to Rowell Avenue. At least one lane in both directions will remain open at all times.

In addition, work will get underway in August on the following ramps; Chicago Street (U.S. 52/Illinois 53) to eastbound I-80, Richards Street to westbound I-80, and westbound I-80 to Chicago Street. During that time, ramps will be closed, and detours will be posted.

The entire project is expected to be completed in early October.

The eventual replacement of the Des Plaines River bridges and larger improvements to I-80 in Will County are a cornerstone project in Gov. JB Pritzker's Rebuild Illinois capital program, which will invest $33.2 billion in transportation infrastructure across all modes throughout the state. The estimated $1.2 billion project is included in IDOT's current multi-year plan, with construction tentative to begin in three years.

The project will reconstruct 16 miles of I-80, from Ridge Road in Minooka to U.S. 30 in Joliet and New Lenox, while adding or extending auxiliary lanes to improve safety and reduce congestion, as well as improving interchanges at I-55, Illinois 7, Center Street, U.S. 52/Illinois 53, Richards Street and Briggs Street.

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.
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ET21

Looks like they're taking the Tollways plan with the Mile Long bridge. Repairing as needed until the full reconstruction can begin.
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edwaleni

Quote from: ET21 on July 19, 2020, 01:47:11 PM
Looks like they're taking the Tollways plan with the Mile Long bridge. Repairing as needed until the full reconstruction can begin.

Since the urgency was somewhat accelerated by the media, IDOT has a large degree of engineering, environmental reviews, public hearings etc. that need to be completed before *any* replacement can even begin.

The bridges aren't on the verge of collapse, just rated poorly. The interim work is to address items that caused the poor rating.

It's been well documented that the bridges has several issues:

- rebar bulging in the support pylons which is causing the outer layers to fall away
- severe corrosion of the underspan which is impacting some of the girder plating

If IDOT has what other DOT's have, they are using IoT "health" sensors on the spans to measure the vibration frequency, span movements, etc. One bridge I am aware of uses a laser based system. It even detected a building demolition 1.5 miles away when it caused the bridge to vibrate.

The technology used to measure bridge health has come a long way since the Twin Cities bridge fail. Especially these steel cantilever's built after WW2.


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captkirk_4

It looks like the project to replace the I-74 I-57 dangerous obsolete slow speed cloverleaf interchange with a new high speed flyover and wide loop design is finally starting over a year behind schedule. The buldozers are starting to plow out the southernmost profile of the exchange and a wall has been build to hold back the foundation as half of the bride on Bloomington Rd is being dismantled to be rebuilt much longer and wider allowing the new exits to pass under. Mattis Rd now has some earthwork to widen it and the project on that bridge is supposed to begin in August. Is supposed to take a year for the bridges of the auxiliary streets to be redone to accept the larger lane flow designs before the main part of the construction begins. 5 years ago according to the plan this was already supposed to be underway by summer of 2019. It is needed, out of town traffic just flies into that intersection at 75mph when large numbers of cars are trying to pick up speed or exit in that too short cloverleaf section. A similarly outdated design is at the I-57 I-72 interchange but there is much less traffic there.

ilpt4u

Quote from: captkirk_4 on July 21, 2020, 08:44:03 AM
It looks like the project to replace the I-74 I-57 dangerous obsolete slow speed cloverleaf interchange with a new high speed flyover and wide loop design is finally starting over a year behind schedule. The buldozers are starting to plow out the southernmost profile of the exchange and a wall has been build to hold back the foundation as half of the bride on Bloomington Rd is being dismantled to be rebuilt much longer and wider allowing the new exits to pass under. Mattis Rd now has some earthwork to widen it and the project on that bridge is supposed to begin in August. Is supposed to take a year for the bridges of the auxiliary streets to be redone to accept the larger lane flow designs before the main part of the construction begins. 5 years ago according to the plan this was already supposed to be underway by summer of 2019. It is needed, out of town traffic just flies into that intersection at 75mph when large numbers of cars are trying to pick up speed or exit in that too short cloverleaf section. A similarly outdated design is at the I-57 I-72 interchange but there is much less traffic there.
IDOT has horrible cloverleaves all across the state. Many need upgrades and flyovers

ChiMilNet

Quote from: ilpt4u on July 21, 2020, 12:20:49 PM
Quote from: captkirk_4 on July 21, 2020, 08:44:03 AM
It looks like the project to replace the I-74 I-57 dangerous obsolete slow speed cloverleaf interchange with a new high speed flyover and wide loop design is finally starting over a year behind schedule. The buldozers are starting to plow out the southernmost profile of the exchange and a wall has been build to hold back the foundation as half of the bride on Bloomington Rd is being dismantled to be rebuilt much longer and wider allowing the new exits to pass under. Mattis Rd now has some earthwork to widen it and the project on that bridge is supposed to begin in August. Is supposed to take a year for the bridges of the auxiliary streets to be redone to accept the larger lane flow designs before the main part of the construction begins. 5 years ago according to the plan this was already supposed to be underway by summer of 2019. It is needed, out of town traffic just flies into that intersection at 75mph when large numbers of cars are trying to pick up speed or exit in that too short cloverleaf section. A similarly outdated design is at the I-57 I-72 interchange but there is much less traffic there.
IDOT has horrible cloverleaves all across the state. Many need upgrades and flyovers

I've lost count of how many alone are just on either I-80 or I-55.

hobsini2

I get that there are some cloverleafs that need major overhauls. 55/80, 57/74, 55/72, 74/80, 80/88 stick out to me. But some of the other cloverleafs would be improved by just adding C-D lanes to look like 55/83. For instance, 39/80, 39/88. I don't get this phobia some people have with cloverleafs, roundabouts and left exits/entrances. There are some instances where they work well.
I knew it. I'm surrounded by assholes. Keep firing, assholes! - Dark Helmet (Spaceballs)

kphoger

Quote from: hobsini2 on July 21, 2020, 02:31:02 PM
I don't get this phobia some people have with cloverleafs, roundabouts and left exits/entrances. There are some instances where they work well.

I've never experienced any problems with the left exit from I-64 EB to I-57 SB, for example.  Nor with the left exit from I-64 WB to I-57 NB.

Granted, I'm not super familiar with it, but I don't recall ever experiencing issues at the cloverleaf between I-270 and IL-111.

Roundabouts.......  ummmmm......  Illinois has so many not-really-roundabouts, that I'm struggling to think of one I've used that actually counts.  Zeigler?  Hmm, that's still a stretch.
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Male pronouns, please.

Quote from: Philip K. DickIf you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use them.

ilpt4u

#1808
39/80 is probably fine as a cloverleaf; 39/88 will probably need a flyover in the future. The amount of intermodal traffic thru Rochelle is only going to increase, due to the UP Intermodal Yard there. Population continuing to grow west along the I-80 and I-88 corridors will also lead to increasing traffic

But, since this is IL, and there are yet any flyovers on the others you mentioned, which should be higher priorities, I won't hold my breath

Illinois has been adding roundabouts. One I was surprised to find is where IL 13 and IL 154 meet west of Pinckneyville. Not sure if that is on your "actually counts" list

hobsini2

Quote from: kphoger on July 21, 2020, 02:44:06 PM
Quote from: hobsini2 on July 21, 2020, 02:31:02 PM
I don't get this phobia some people have with cloverleafs, roundabouts and left exits/entrances. There are some instances where they work well.

I've never experienced any problems with the left exit from I-64 EB to I-57 SB, for example.  Nor with the left exit from I-64 WB to I-57 NB.

Granted, I'm not super familiar with it, but I don't recall ever experiencing issues at the cloverleaf between I-270 and IL-111.

Roundabouts.......  ummmmm......  Illinois has so many not-really-roundabouts, that I'm struggling to think of one I've used that actually counts.  Zeigler?  Hmm, that's still a stretch.
The roundabouts that come to mind KP are on Route 47 at Burlington Rd, Route 23 at I-90 Ramps (brand new as of December), and Sullivan Rd at Highland Ave in Aurora. All 3 junctions function well. The last one was a 4 way stop sign that had a high amount of accidents from people flying down Sullivan toward 31. People were ignoring that stop sign too often.
I knew it. I'm surrounded by assholes. Keep firing, assholes! - Dark Helmet (Spaceballs)

kphoger

Quote from: hobsini2 on July 21, 2020, 02:51:44 PM
The roundabouts that come to mind KP are on Route 47 at Burlington Rd, Route 23 at I-90 Ramps (brand new as of December), and Sullivan Rd at Highland Ave in Aurora. All 3 junctions function well. The last one was a 4 way stop sign that had a high amount of accidents from people flying down Sullivan toward 31. People were ignoring that stop sign too often.

3 way stop, right?  Not 4 way stop.

But yeah, those are after my time.  By the way, when did the old "big cowboy hat Arby's" on Route 31 close down (809 N Lake)?  That's a shame.
Keep right except to pass.  Yes.  You.
Visit scenic Orleans County, NY!
Male pronouns, please.

Quote from: Philip K. DickIf you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use them.

hobsini2

Quote from: kphoger on July 21, 2020, 03:09:06 PM
Quote from: hobsini2 on July 21, 2020, 02:51:44 PM
The roundabouts that come to mind KP are on Route 47 at Burlington Rd, Route 23 at I-90 Ramps (brand new as of December), and Sullivan Rd at Highland Ave in Aurora. All 3 junctions function well. The last one was a 4 way stop sign that had a high amount of accidents from people flying down Sullivan toward 31. People were ignoring that stop sign too often.

3 way stop, right?  Not 4 way stop.

But yeah, those are after my time.  By the way, when did the old "big cowboy hat Arby's" on Route 31 close down (809 N Lake)?  That's a shame.
No. It was a 4 way. There was a business on the northside of the intersection. https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7887124,-88.3289954,215m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

That Arby's has been gone for at least 7 years. Probably longer now.
I knew it. I'm surrounded by assholes. Keep firing, assholes! - Dark Helmet (Spaceballs)

kphoger

Quote from: hobsini2 on July 21, 2020, 03:47:10 PM
No. It was a 4 way. There was a business on the northside of the intersection.

Ah.  I saw the business entrance doesn't have a Yield sign at the roundabout, so I just assumed it didn't have a Stop sign before that either.  But I see now that was a bad assumption.
Keep right except to pass.  Yes.  You.
Visit scenic Orleans County, NY!
Male pronouns, please.

Quote from: Philip K. DickIf you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use them.

Rick Powell


edwaleni

Quote from: Rick Powell on July 21, 2020, 05:18:18 PM
New IDOT FY 2021-2026 program posted.

http://www.idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Reports/OP&P/HIP/2021-2026/2021-2026%20MYP%20Internet%20Version.pdf

Since I prefer to look outside of Chicago metro......

A lot of replacements for rural 1966-1973 era interstate bridges.
US-50 finally gets some love, Lebanon Bypass survived. Finally will resurface from Flora to Vincennes and update the Red Skeleton Bridge (finally) with Indiana DOT. That bridge was built in 1962 anticipating a future interstate.
Dehli Bypass (US-67) finally gets going
One of the state highways that doesn't have a number, the "Dieterich Blacktop" gets a redo

And the one thing that was a predictable as the sun rising (I posted it on elsewhere), US-45 will be redone between Louisville and Flora.

Louisville is where they had that trial and forced all of the state government attorneys and Gov. Pritzker to come down from Springfield to defend themselves.  Boom, just like that the road gets added to the list. Welcome to Illinois politics.

But the one that has me really baffled, Lawrence County put in for $7 million to rehab the Wabash Cannonball Road bridge over the Wabash River.

At last check, this is a privately owned toll road/bridge that uses the former CCC&StL (Penn Central/Southern) railroad bridge over the Wabash River.  It's primary use is for people from St Francisville to drive up to Vincennes and back.

This bridge even has a turn span in the middle for steamers (though the last time it turned was around 1912).

When the railroad was formally abandoned, local farmers purchased the ROW, put down planks on the railroad ties and set up a toll booth.

Since there is no other bridge for St Francisville, if this didn't exist, residents would have to jog several miles west to IL-1 to go to Lawrenceville or Mt Carmel. The town sits directly in between with no other way to get across.

It makes me wonder if IDOT is outright purchasing the bridge from the local farmers and install directional traffic lighting.

ilpt4u

Wonder why the old New Harmony bridge hasn't found a way to get the same treatment? Or is that one simply too close to the I-64 bridge which replaced the need for the New Harmony bridge/former US 460's path across the Wabash?

edwaleni

Quote from: ilpt4u on July 21, 2020, 07:08:43 PM
Wonder why the old New Harmony bridge hasn't found a way to get the same treatment? Or is that one simply too close to the I-64 bridge which replaced the need for the New Harmony bridge/former US 460's path across the Wabash?

I found out why IDOT is funding the bridge.

The Wabash Cannonball Bridge was purchased from the farmers by the City of St Francisville in 1997. They then turned around and sold the bridge to IDOT in 2009 and the State of Illinois is the official maintainer of record. The City of St Francisville is listed as the operator.

The bridge was closed for a week last fall for a detailed inspection and then reopened.

The tolls were raised from .50 to $1 to cover the new minimum wage law in Illinois for public employees.

The last inspection showed it as "critical" with scour damage on the stone pylons and no embankment protection.

From what I can tell the bridge was originally built in 1884 and had gone through a series of updates by the various railroad owners until it was abandoned.


cwm1276

Quote from: ilpt4u on July 21, 2020, 02:48:55 PM
39/80 is probably fine as a cloverleaf; 39/88 will probably need a flyover in the future. The amount of intermodal traffic thru Rochelle is only going to increase, due to the UP Intermodal Yard there. Population continuing to grow west along the I-80 and I-88 corridors will also lead to increasing traffic

But, since this is IL, and there are yet any flyovers on the others you mentioned, which should be higher priorities, I won't hold my breath

Illinois has been adding roundabouts. One I was surprised to find is where IL 13 and IL 154 meet west of Pinckneyville. Not sure if that is on your "actually counts" list
The UP intermodal yard in Rochelle closed.  C+D lanes would do wonders at 39/88 for 39, I don't know that 88 needs them.

ilpt4u

^^^^ Wow, really? That intermodal yard wasn't even that old!

Thats what I get, posting something without googling it first...

edwaleni

Quote from: ilpt4u on July 21, 2020, 07:08:43 PM
Wonder why the old New Harmony bridge hasn't found a way to get the same treatment? Or is that one simply too close to the I-64 bridge which replaced the need for the New Harmony bridge/former US 460's path across the Wabash?

The good news is that the bridge has a new owner.

The New Harmony and Wabash River Bridge Authority was formed in 2018 to get the bridge in useful condition again.

The State of Indiana provided $350,000 to get it reopened, but a liability issue came up. Also the bridge's operating commission was established by Congress in 1941 and was was still considered a "federal bridge". The title to the bridge had to be transferred to the new state authority.

This is all recent news as of February 2020.

What is also interesting is that many local farmers, residents and families in the area all gave money to the new authority to help get it opened again.

edwaleni

Quote from: ilpt4u on July 21, 2020, 07:47:51 PM
^^^^ Wow, really? That intermodal yard wasn't even that old!

Thats what I get, posting something without googling it first...

No worries as this was a recent decision by UP as part of their "Precision Scheduled Railroading" cost cutting deal.

They are running longer trains with more engines with the consist more pre-sorted @ North Platte to expedite switching in Chicago.

Because of this they closed a ton of yards.

kphoger

Quote from: edwaleni on July 21, 2020, 07:03:21 PM
And the one thing that was a predictable as the sun rising (I posted it on elsewhere), US-45 will be redone between Louisville and Flora.

Louisville is where they had that trial and forced all of the state government attorneys and Gov. Pritzker to come down from Springfield to defend themselves.  Boom, just like that the road gets added to the list. Welcome to Illinois politics.

It's just a resurfacing, isn't it?  Hardly huge pork.

Quote from: edwaleni on July 21, 2020, 07:03:21 PM
But the one that has me really baffled, Lawrence County put in for $7 million to rehab the Wabash Cannonball Road bridge over the Wabash River.

At last check, this is a privately owned toll road/bridge that uses the former CCC&StL (Penn Central/Southern) railroad bridge over the Wabash River.  It's primary use is for people from St Francisville to drive up to Vincennes and back.

This bridge even has a turn span in the middle for steamers (though the last time it turned was around 1912).

When the railroad was formally abandoned, local farmers purchased the ROW, put down planks on the railroad ties and set up a toll booth.

Since there is no other bridge for St Francisville, if this didn't exist, residents would have to jog several miles west to IL-1 to go to Lawrenceville or Mt Carmel. The town sits directly in between with no other way to get across.

It makes me wonder if IDOT is outright purchasing the bridge from the local farmers and install directional traffic lighting.

Dang, how did I not know about that bridge!  Added to my bucket list...
Keep right except to pass.  Yes.  You.
Visit scenic Orleans County, NY!
Male pronouns, please.

Quote from: Philip K. DickIf you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use them.

kphoger

Quote from: edwaleni on July 21, 2020, 07:03:21 PM
At last check, this is a privately owned toll road/bridge ... It makes me wonder if IDOT is outright purchasing the bridge from the local farmers ...

I can find multiple references to the bridge having been transferred to the state of Illinois in 2009, yet I cannot find any newspaper article describing that transfer of ownership.  What's up with that?  IDOT's bridge info lists maintenance as being the municipality's responsibility, with the last inspection having been done in July 2019.
Keep right except to pass.  Yes.  You.
Visit scenic Orleans County, NY!
Male pronouns, please.

Quote from: Philip K. DickIf you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use them.

Joe The Dragon

Quote from: kphoger on July 22, 2020, 10:24:11 AM
Quote from: edwaleni on July 21, 2020, 07:03:21 PM
At last check, this is a privately owned toll road/bridge ... It makes me wonder if IDOT is outright purchasing the bridge from the local farmers ...

I can find multiple references to the bridge having been transferred to the state of Illinois in 2009, yet I cannot find any newspaper article describing that transfer of ownership.  What's up with that?  IDOT's bridge info lists maintenance as being the municipality's responsibility, with the last inspection having been done in July 2019.
is the toll signed posted under the MUTCD rules? If not then some maybe be able to blow past the toll and be able to win in court.

edwaleni

It looks like IDOT is on the hook until 2030. Many of the articles in 2009 were in the Lawrence Daily Record in Lawrenceville and are no longer available.

From Boomer Magazine:

https://boomermagonline.com/?p=2544


QuoteAfter going unused for a few decades, the wooden bridge found new life, apparently some time between 1960 and 1970, when it was purchased by a farmer, Frank Stangle, and his family. The family made minimal changes, before opening the "Stangle Bridge"  as a toll bridge. As is still the case today, farm trucks were frequent to utilize the structure, and it also provided a shortcut for those from St. Francisville who worked in the Vincennes area and vise versa.

Stangle and his family left original railroad ties in place and running planks for cars were installed. The rails were removed from the deck, but were used for a different purpose – as the guard rail that was added to each side.

The toll bridge served its purpose for many years, but the Stangle family eventually reached an agreement to sell the historic structure to the Village of St. Francisville.

The only problem was, St. Francisville didn't have the necessary $60,000 to complete the purchase. That didn't stop a group of good citizens of the village from banding together, holding frequent fish frys, festivals and other fund-raisers to scrape together the money. Eventually, the village was able to make the purchase in 1995.

It was only a matter of time before the state of Illinois became interested in owning the bridge, and in 2009 the Illinois Department of Transportation took the structure over. The IDOT promised funding for the bridge for 20 years, according to published reports. Much of the revenue the bridge produces is used for expensive inspections, which reportedly occur on a bi-annual basis.

While at one time there was a ferry boat to take travelers from one side of the Wabash to the other, the bridge has always been a popular option. In 2011, it was estimated that 800 vehicles crossed the bridge on a daily basis. Today, it's said that 600 vehicles make the trip each day.

The toll booth, located on the Illinois side of the Wabash, opens each day at 4 a.m. The booth closes at 9 p.m. throughout the week, and at 11 p.m. each Friday and Saturday night. So, depending upon the day, travelers have a few hours during which they can cross back and forth free of charge.

It should be noted that because Indiana is in the Eastern time zone and Illinois is in the Central, bridge crossers will invariably either gain or lose an hour on their trip. If someone crosses from Indiana at 2 p.m., for example, he'll arrive in St. Francisville at just a few minutes after 1.



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