Illinois notes

[inkyatari]

doesn't get any flatter than this

I'm still pissed that IDOT tore down the observation tower that used to be there.

[Crash_It]

I'm on my way to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for a road trip, and the majority of the trip involves almost all of I-57 in the state. Any construction projects I should be aware of as I traverse the state? Thank you in advance.

Google maps says taking I-55 down through St. Louis and then picking up US 67 at Festus, MO into Little Rock only adds 8 miles and 18 minutes. You'd be traveling on the future I-57 corridor AND you'd be trading the boring I-57 drive for the equally boring I-55 drive.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Hot+Springs,+Arkansas/Chicago,+IL/@37.0302596,-90.0149677,7z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x87cd2a9388325047:0xbaa8bef944021e0d!2m2!1d-93.0551795!2d34.5037004!1m5!1m1!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000!2m2!1d-87.6297982!2d41.8781136!3e0

I55 isn't that bad, there are parts in sections of Montgomery, McLean and Livingston Counties that are a bit boring but not a snooze fest.

[ilpt4u]

I'm on my way to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for a road trip, and the majority of the trip involves almost all of I-57 in the state. Any construction projects I should be aware of as I traverse the state? Thank you in advance.

Google maps says taking I-55 down through St. Louis and then picking up US 67 at Festus, MO into Little Rock only adds 8 miles and 18 minutes. You'd be traveling on the future I-57 corridor AND you'd be trading the boring I-57 drive for the equally boring I-55 drive.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Hot+Springs,+Arkansas/Chicago,+IL/@37.0302596,-90.0149677,7z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x87cd2a9388325047:0xbaa8bef944021e0d!2m2!1d-93.0551795!2d34.5037004!1m5!1m1!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000!2m2!1d-87.6297982!2d41.8781136!3e0

I55 isn't that bad, there are parts in sections of Montgomery, McLean and Livingston Counties that are a bit boring but not a snooze fest.

I agree...I-55 isn't nearly the snooze fest I-57 is thru Central Illinois

[Revive 755]

^ I probably wouldn't take I-55 north of Bloomington right now, given that construction is starting up again south of Arsenal Road (losing half an hour here is not out of the question), sometime this year it appears there will be a head to head section between IL 113 and IL 47, and there will be another head to head section resuming sometime around Pontiac.  Then there's the full I-255 closure around St. Louis, wiping out the main alternative if something goes wrong with the PSB.  If you reach St. Louis during the afternoon rush, I-55 used to get fairly heavy north of the interchange with US 67 at Festus.

I think I-57 has construction as well, particularly south of I-64, but I'm not as familiar with any other projects that might still be going on elsewhere.  At least last fall there was a fairly heavy work zone or two near Kankakee.

[ilpt4u]

According to the IDOT map, IDOT is working on I-57 between Marion and Cairo also, but I haven't had a reason to drive down to Cairo or on over to Sikeston lately, so no first hand knowledge of that segment of 57

Nothing crazy enough to make the morning traffic reports on the radio, anyway

[inkyatari]

I'm on my way to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for a road trip, and the majority of the trip involves almost all of I-57 in the state. Any construction projects I should be aware of as I traverse the state? Thank you in advance.

Google maps says taking I-55 down through St. Louis and then picking up US 67 at Festus, MO into Little Rock only adds 8 miles and 18 minutes. You'd be traveling on the future I-57 corridor AND you'd be trading the boring I-57 drive for the equally boring I-55 drive.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Hot+Springs,+Arkansas/Chicago,+IL/@37.0302596,-90.0149677,7z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x87cd2a9388325047:0xbaa8bef944021e0d!2m2!1d-93.0551795!2d34.5037004!1m5!1m1!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000!2m2!1d-87.6297982!2d41.8781136!3e0

I55 isn't that bad, there are parts in sections of Montgomery, McLean and Livingston Counties that are a bit boring but not a snooze fest.

I agree...I-55 isn't nearly the snooze fest I-57 is thru Central Illinois

At least you're not on I-39 from Lasalle / Peru to Bloomington.  Zzzzzz

[SSOWorld]

I'm on my way to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for a road trip, and the majority of the trip involves almost all of I-57 in the state. Any construction projects I should be aware of as I traverse the state? Thank you in advance.

Google maps says taking I-55 down through St. Louis and then picking up US 67 at Festus, MO into Little Rock only adds 8 miles and 18 minutes. You'd be traveling on the future I-57 corridor AND you'd be trading the boring I-57 drive for the equally boring I-55 drive.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Hot+Springs,+Arkansas/Chicago,+IL/@37.0302596,-90.0149677,7z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x87cd2a9388325047:0xbaa8bef944021e0d!2m2!1d-93.0551795!2d34.5037004!1m5!1m1!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000!2m2!1d-87.6297982!2d41.8781136!3e0

I55 isn't that bad, there are parts in sections of Montgomery, McLean and Livingston Counties that are a bit boring but not a snooze fest.

I agree...I-55 isn't nearly the snooze fest I-57 is thru Central Illinois

At least you're not on I-39 from Lasalle / PeruRockford to Bloomington.  Zzzzzz

FIXED!!!

[Crash_It]

I'm on my way to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for a road trip, and the majority of the trip involves almost all of I-57 in the state. Any construction projects I should be aware of as I traverse the state? Thank you in advance.

Google maps says taking I-55 down through St. Louis and then picking up US 67 at Festus, MO into Little Rock only adds 8 miles and 18 minutes. You'd be traveling on the future I-57 corridor AND you'd be trading the boring I-57 drive for the equally boring I-55 drive.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Hot+Springs,+Arkansas/Chicago,+IL/@37.0302596,-90.0149677,7z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x87cd2a9388325047:0xbaa8bef944021e0d!2m2!1d-93.0551795!2d34.5037004!1m5!1m1!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000!2m2!1d-87.6297982!2d41.8781136!3e0

I55 isn't that bad, there are parts in sections of Montgomery, McLean and Livingston Counties that are a bit boring but not a snooze fest.

I agree...I-55 isn't nearly the snooze fest I-57 is thru Central Illinois

At least you're not on I-39 from Lasalle / PeruRockford to Bloomington.  Zzzzzz

FIXED!!!

The Northern IL portion (Winnebago, Ogle, Lee, LaSalle Co) of it has hills and Rock formations to look at so it's not a snooze fest by any means.

[inkyatari]

I'm on my way to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for a road trip, and the majority of the trip involves almost all of I-57 in the state. Any construction projects I should be aware of as I traverse the state? Thank you in advance.

Google maps says taking I-55 down through St. Louis and then picking up US 67 at Festus, MO into Little Rock only adds 8 miles and 18 minutes. You'd be traveling on the future I-57 corridor AND you'd be trading the boring I-57 drive for the equally boring I-55 drive.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Hot+Springs,+Arkansas/Chicago,+IL/@37.0302596,-90.0149677,7z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x87cd2a9388325047:0xbaa8bef944021e0d!2m2!1d-93.0551795!2d34.5037004!1m5!1m1!1s0x880e2c3cd0f4cbed:0xafe0a6ad09c0c000!2m2!1d-87.6297982!2d41.8781136!3e0

I55 isn't that bad, there are parts in sections of Montgomery, McLean and Livingston Counties that are a bit boring but not a snooze fest.

I agree...I-55 isn't nearly the snooze fest I-57 is thru Central Illinois

At least you're not on I-39 from Lasalle / Peru to Bloomington.  Zzzzzz

FIXED!!!

RETURNED TO PERFECTION

The southern portion of 39 is WAY worse than the northern portion.

[Badger39]

BigRig Trucks posted a live Youtube video this week of driving from Rockford to Bloomington on I-39.  The road still appears to be in atrocious shape (although they did fix the lane-wide pothole on the southbound US 20 ramp south of Rockford).  There were several chat comments on the deplorable condition of the road.

[Rick Powell]

The southern portion of 39 is WAY worse than the northern portion.

I guess it would be to the lay traveler. Being involved in the whole corridor prior to construction, I know all those little details, like the peat bog at Exit 48 that had to be dug out 30 feet and backfilled, the surveyors who were shot at along Six Turns Road near Wenona, the million dollar inspection well we needed to install for NICOR near Exit 8, the ATSF railroad wanting to raise the new highway overpass to 26 feet to allow their main line to be electrified (never happened) and several other intricate things that I am reminded of every time I drive it.

[edwaleni]

The southern portion of 39 is WAY worse than the northern portion.

I guess it would be to the lay traveler. Being involved in the whole corridor prior to construction, I know all those little details, like the peat bog at Exit 48 that had to be dug out 30 feet and backfilled, the surveyors who were shot at along Six Turns Road near Wenona, the million dollar inspection well we needed to install for NICOR near Exit 8, the ATSF railroad wanting to raise the new highway overpass to 26 feet to allow their main line to be electrified (never happened) and several other intricate things that I am reminded of every time I drive it.

Were you involved in the I-155 ROW dispute south of Morton? (it was somewhere between Morton and Hartsburg)

Maybe you could write a book, "IDOT's Greatest Hits & Other Road Building Mysteries"

[3467]

Reminds me of Santa 've South of Monmouth. They complained and complained and got a beautiful new overpass. Seems to be common for the rails.

The original supplemental freeway plan ran what would be 39 along IL 2 26 89 then 121 to Decatur. That would have been a fun corridor to build.

[Rick Powell]

Were you involved in the I-155 ROW dispute south of Morton? (it was somewhere between Morton and Hartsburg)

Maybe you could write a book, "IDOT's Greatest Hits & Other Road Building Mysteries"

I-155 was in Districts 4 and 5 at the time, and I worked in District 3. I did have a few conversations with people who were involved in the land acquisition for I-155. From what I understand, a lot of the corridor was owned by a few families, probably through trusts.

[edwaleni]

Were you involved in the I-155 ROW dispute south of Morton? (it was somewhere between Morton and Hartsburg)

Maybe you could write a book, "IDOT's Greatest Hits & Other Road Building Mysteries"

I-155 was in Districts 4 and 5 at the time, and I worked in District 3. I did have a few conversations with people who were involved in the land acquisition for I-155. From what I understand, a lot of the corridor was owned by a few families, probably through trusts.

I found your prior comment 5 years ago (!) on this subject.

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=14485.msg2037024#msg2037024

[edwaleni]

The southern portion of 39 is WAY worse than the northern portion.

the ATSF railroad wanting to raise the new highway overpass to 26 feet to allow their main line to be electrified (never happened) and several other intricate things that I am reminded of every time I drive it.

I am trying to reach a retired Santa Fe dispatcher on why they were considering electrification.  In Illinois, that is really odd.

As for odd design requirements, I noticed in the engineering diagrams for the probably defunct IL-336 west of Peoria, they included notes that the proposed bridge over the now removed Union Pacific tracks to Farmington had to maintain proper railroad clearances in the event the rails were put back in!

That is different because so far IDOT has not wasted much time removing interstate bridges over defunct railroad ROW's. With Illinois having so many fallen flags since the interstate system was built, it makes for a lot of bridges to maintain.

[ilpt4u]

The southern portion of 39 is WAY worse than the northern portion.

the ATSF railroad wanting to raise the new highway overpass to 26 feet to allow their main line to be electrified (never happened) and several other intricate things that I am reminded of every time I drive it.

That is different because so far IDOT has not wasted much time removing interstate bridges over defunct railroad ROW's. With Illinois having so many fallen flags since the interstate system was built, it makes for a lot of bridges to maintain.

A year or two ago IDOT removed a Railroad Under/Highway Overpass from IL 13 between Carbondale and Murphysboro...I believe it was an old branch line to Murphy off the Illinois Central (now Canadian National) Mainline. Trackage has been gone for awhile

IDOT D9 built a new single support pier under IL 13 where the overpasses were (one for each direction) and then filled in dirt/rock/whatever around it, then layed a new asphalt road where the overpasses used to be

[edwaleni]

The southern portion of 39 is WAY worse than the northern portion.

the ATSF railroad wanting to raise the new highway overpass to 26 feet to allow their main line to be electrified (never happened) and several other intricate things that I am reminded of every time I drive it.

That is different because so far IDOT has not wasted much time removing interstate bridges over defunct railroad ROW's. With Illinois having so many fallen flags since the interstate system was built, it makes for a lot of bridges to maintain.

A year or two ago IDOT removed a Railroad Under/Highway Overpass from IL 13 between Carbondale and Murphysboro...I believe it was an old branch line to Murphy off the Illinois Central (now Canadian National) Mainline. Trackage has been gone for awhile

IDOT D9 built a new single support pier under IL 13 where the overpasses were (one for each direction) and then filled in dirt/rock/whatever around it, then layed a new asphalt road where the overpasses used to be

I could probably have a separate thread on just bridge removals in Illinois alone.  My thoughts are just think how much truck diesel can be saved by removing all these bridges.

However IDOT doesn't always remove the grade (as you noted), simply removes the bridge and then fills them in.

[ilpt4u]

^^^^Exactly. The grade was left at the bridge removal I mentioned on IL 13. But at least bridge maintenance costs should lower, I would think

[edwaleni]

The southern portion of 39 is WAY worse than the northern portion.

the ATSF railroad wanting to raise the new highway overpass to 26 feet to allow their main line to be electrified (never happened) and several other intricate things that I am reminded of every time I drive it.

That is different because so far IDOT has not wasted much time removing interstate bridges over defunct railroad ROW's. With Illinois having so many fallen flags since the interstate system was built, it makes for a lot of bridges to maintain.

A year or two ago IDOT removed a Railroad Under/Highway Overpass from IL 13 between Carbondale and Murphysboro...I believe it was an old branch line to Murphy off the Illinois Central (now Canadian National) Mainline. Trackage has been gone for awhile

IDOT D9 built a new single support pier under IL 13 where the overpasses were (one for each direction) and then filled in dirt/rock/whatever around it, then layed a new asphalt road where the overpasses used to be

I think you may be confusing the new Wolf Creek Road exit ramps. The railroad was pulled out way, way before that and crossed a half mile to the east.

Yes, it was one of the many IC branch lines that serviced the various strip mines in the area and connected the Cairo Line with the Edgewood Cutoff.

Its now the Crab Orchard & Egyptian RR, owned by Progressive Rail. IDOT took out that crossing some 20+ years ago. When the Cambria Mine closed many moons ago the line was ripped out back to Ordill just south of IL-13.

[Rick Powell]

I am trying to reach a retired Santa Fe dispatcher on why they were considering electrification.  In Illinois, that is really odd.

As for odd design requirements, I noticed in the engineering diagrams for the probably defunct IL-336 west of Peoria, they included notes that the proposed bridge over the now removed Union Pacific tracks to Farmington had to maintain proper railroad clearances in the event the rails were put back in!

That is different because so far IDOT has not wasted much time removing interstate bridges over defunct railroad ROW's. With Illinois having so many fallen flags since the interstate system was built, it makes for a lot of bridges to maintain.

My dad was the railroad and utilities engineer for IDOT District 3 at the time. He isn't around anymore to ask for details, but he thought they were trying to get a few feet of extra clearance and using "future electrification" as a negotiating tool. I think it got run up the fed's flagpole, and when ATSF couldn't produce solid documentation of a plan to electrify, or at least start the design and procurement process within the next 10 years, IDOT dug its heels in and wouldn't give them any more than the standard 23 feet.

As far as providing for the future, if a rail line is abandoned during planning or construction, the approach has usually been to not build the bridge. On I-55 at the south end of Dwight, the old GM&O branch to Lacon and Washington was removed before I-55 went in and the highway remained at level. However, at Pontiac the old N&W between Fairbury and Streator wasn't quite abandoned and a bridge was designed, but the state was already moving dirt to accommodate the bridge. The abandonment came, and the embankment was already there, so they just filled in the space at the abandoned tracks where the bridge would have gone. One of my former co-workers named it "Mt. Livingston" in honor of Livingston County, and it stands today as a big hump in the road.

[edwaleni]

As far as providing for the future, if a rail line is abandoned during planning or construction, the approach has usually been to not build the bridge. On I-55 at the south end of Dwight, the old GM&O branch to Lacon and Washington was removed before I-55 went in and the highway remained at level. However, at Pontiac the old N&W between Fairbury and Streator wasn't quite abandoned and a bridge was designed, but the state was already moving dirt to accommodate the bridge. The abandonment came, and the embankment was already there, so they just filled in the space at the abandoned tracks where the bridge would have gone. One of my former co-workers named it "Mt. Livingston" in honor of Livingston County, and it stands today as a big hump in the road.

Man, I can't tell you how many times I have driven over "Mt. Livingston" wondering how it got that way.  I knew there used to be a rail ROW (the powerlines give it away) but no bridge. I just figured you filled it in after they bolted.

An oddity is that IDOT is still maintaining a bridge over the former Illinois Terminal north of Lincoln on I-55. That line was taken out in the 1960's when they leased the Penn Central line from Morton to Decatur. There is the I-57 bridge over the long gone CM&G (later MILW) north of Kankakee. I could go on.

I think I could drive I-55 in my sleep.  Used to drive it during the days when IDOT was still weaving us on and off of US-66. I think the route between Gardner and Dwight was the final section we were waiting on them to finish. My dad and I used to play a game "where does US-66 stop and where does it start?" He always won and when they finished he told me his secret. It was the interstate mandated reflectors. US-66 didn't have them but I-55 did.

[Rick Powell]

An oddity is that IDOT is still maintaining a bridge over the former Illinois Terminal north of Lincoln on I-55. That line was taken out in the 1960's when they leased the Penn Central line from Morton to Decatur. There is the I-57 bridge over the long gone CM&G (later MILW) north of Kankakee. I could go on.

Sometimes a community will want to keep the bridge intact so that they could replace the old railroad bed with a road or trail. I-55 over the old Illinois Terminal in Atlanta, IL was not closed when the rail was abandoned, and a street was built underneath. The one you are referring to on I-57 in Peotone has a long range plan by the county Forest Preserve to re-make into a trail. Not sure why the bridge in Lincoln has remained intact, I think they have done some work on it after the rail line was abandoned.

[paulthemapguy]

As far as providing for the future, if a rail line is abandoned during planning or construction, the approach has usually been to not build the bridge. On I-55 at the south end of Dwight, the old GM&O branch to Lacon and Washington was removed before I-55 went in and the highway remained at level. However, at Pontiac the old N&W between Fairbury and Streator wasn't quite abandoned and a bridge was designed, but the state was already moving dirt to accommodate the bridge. The abandonment came, and the embankment was already there, so they just filled in the space at the abandoned tracks where the bridge would have gone. One of my former co-workers named it "Mt. Livingston" in honor of Livingston County, and it stands today as a big hump in the road.

Lol, you're right.  There's nothing down there.

[edwaleni]

An oddity is that IDOT is still maintaining a bridge over the former Illinois Terminal north of Lincoln on I-55. That line was taken out in the 1960's when they leased the Penn Central line from Morton to Decatur. There is the I-57 bridge over the long gone CM&G (later MILW) north of Kankakee. I could go on.

Sometimes a community will want to keep the bridge intact so that they could replace the old railroad bed with a road or trail. I-55 over the old Illinois Terminal in Atlanta, IL was not closed when the rail was abandoned, and a street was built underneath. The one you are referring to on I-57 in Peotone has a long range plan by the county Forest Preserve to re-make into a trail. Not sure why the bridge in Lincoln has remained intact, I think they have done some work on it after the rail line was abandoned.

I just looked the Lincoln bridge up on Google Maps. For years the north side was just a bunch of trees and south side was homeowners.  It appears a development has sprouted up on the north side and the new street dead ends right under the bridge. So I will take that to mean the county or City of Lincoln plans to use the ROW as a future through street and want the bridge to stay up.