Photos: Governor JB Pritzker Bringing Joliet Brand New I-80 Bridge, He Celebrates Construction's Underway

JOLIET, IL — If you are a regularly follower of the Joliet Patch, you've seen our photos and videos showing how major construction is already underway for the new Interstate 80 Bridge over the Des Plaines River. About 50 homes have been demolished as construction crews continue to clear debris and excavate dirt for the long awaited new I-80 bridge.

On Friday morning, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker made a return visit to one of his favorite cities, Joliet. The governor held an 11 a.m. press conference on the east side of Joliet near the city's wastewater plant facility, that way, news media could capture the existing Des Plaines River Bridge in the background. The 1960s-era bridge is going to be torn — in three years. But first, the new I-80 bridge needs to be erected and ready to open.

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Joliet Patch carried the remarks of the governor and of Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy during Patch's Facebook Live.

Governor Pritzker has been responsible for the Rebuild Illinois project. As of May, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation: the following Rebuild Illinois projects have been already completed around the Joliet area:

Houbolt Road Extension

Route 30 Interchange Improvements including added traffic lanes between Route 30 and Gougar Road

Houbolt Road Diverging Diamond Interchange Conversion

New bridges at Hickory Creek, Richards Street, Rowell Road/Canadian National RR

I-80 Ridge Road to River Road reconstruction

Shepley Road over I-80 bridge replacement

Wheeler Avenue over I-80 bridge replacement

Briggs Street over I-80 bridge replacement

River Road over I-80 bridge replacement

Richards Street reconstruction.

The "Under Construction through 2028" timeline indicates the I-80 Des Plaines River replacement, the new Center Street interchange and the new Chicago Street interchange. The projected time frame for those projects is 2026 through 2028.

According to the governor's announcement on Friday, substantial completion with all traffic lanes open along I-80 is planned for November 2028.

Construction such as the demolition of the existing Des Plaines River bridges will continue into 2029.

Although Friday's press conference was of huge importance to Joliet and Will County residents, a number of Chicago TV reporters who sat in the audience were not that interested in the topic. A number of them peppered the governor with questions about the Chicago Bears and the site of their future football stadium plans during the governor's question-and-answer session for reporters.