Construction Begins At I-55 And Weber Road

WILL COUNTY, IL — The reconstruction of the Interstate 55-Weber Road interchange and other capacity improvements began on Thursday, Oct. 4, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced Wednesday. The $68 million project in Romeoville and Bolingbrook will improve travel times and cut down on crashes in a high-growth area, IDOT said.

“This project will solve a longtime issue with safety and congestion along Weber Road, while helping to promote and manage economic activity and job creation in one of the state’s fastest growing areas,” Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn said in a statement. “These improvements will go a long way toward addressing transportation issues, but also enhance the quality of life for local residents.”

Starting Thursday, Weber Road approaching I-55 was reduced to one lane in each direction during off-peak hours to prepare the work zone with temporary pavement, traffic signals and lighting. The temporary measures are necessary so Weber Road can remain two lanes in each direction until the project wraps up in late 2021, officials said.

The closures will take place this fall and next spring, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., with some overnight closures from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., IDOT said.

Drivers can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through the area. IDOT is warning drivers to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be aware of workers and equipment.

The larger improvements, scheduled to begin in late spring, consist of adding a third lane to each direction of Weber Road between 135thStreet/Romeo Road and 119th Street/Rodeo Road, with modernized traffic signals and a barrier median.

The Weber Road interchange with I-55 will be rebuilt in a diverging diamond design, the second by IDOT in the Chicago area, officials said. By routing traffic to the opposite side of the road and eliminating left turns across traffic, the design has helped to cut the number of crashes in half in some locations, IDOT said. To accommodate the new design, a second Weber Road bridge will be built over I-55.

Top image/video via YouTube.