Joliet's Traffic Nightmare On I-80 About To Come True

JOLIET, IL ? A nightmare traffic situation for the city of Joliet is about two weeks away as the Illinois Department of Transportation announced on Thursday that Interstate 80 will be reduced to one lane of traffic heading for several weekends.

On a positive note, I-80 westbound through Joliet will not be impacted at the start of the project.

To complete the project, additional extended weekend lane and ramp closures are scheduled to take place, from 10 p.m. Thursdays to 5 a.m. Mondays, alternating between westbound and eastbound I-80 for approximately eight consecutive weekends, weather permitting.

Mayor Bob O'Dekirk told Patch that the city is hoping to meet with IDOT officials next week to discuss the matter. The city fears that motorists will be using Joliet's city streets to avoid the massive I-80 backlog, causing major congestion for Joliet in the process.

IDOT announced that bridge deck patching and repairs to Interstate 80 will begin on Sept. 8, which is a Thursday, and that work will take place between Raynor Avenue and Gardner Street, in Joliet.

Starting at 10 p.m. Sept. 8, lane closures will take place on eastbound I-80, between Raynor Avenue and Gardner Street. Additionally, the ramp from Chicago Street to eastbound I-80 will be closed, IDOT noted. Eastbound I-80 motorists traveling through the region should consider alternative routes to avoid the area, state officials stated.

The ramp and all lanes are anticipated to reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 12.

"Additionally, the eastbound I-80 ramp to Richards Street will be closed for reconstruction beginning Monday, Aug. 29, with an anticipated reopening in late fall," IDOT stated.

The posted detour directs traffic to exit Briggs Street and re-enter westbound I-80 to access the Richards Street exit.

The work consists of patching, milling, resurfacing and pavement striping to keep the pavement in acceptable condition until the larger corridor project can begin. By scheduling the work over multiple weekends this fall, the unplanned, emergency closures that have occurred with increasing frequency in recent years can be minimized. Also, by planning the repairs, they can be performed more safely and allow motorists the opportunity to plan ahead and use alternative routes to avoid the area when feasible.

As one of the country?s three coast-to-coast interstates, I-80 through Joliet and Will County carries approximately 80,000 vehicles a day, about 25 percent are trucks, IDOT pointed out.