Construction News Print

Click HERE for the 3-21-24 East Avenue Detour Map.

Click HERE for the 10-18-23 update.

PRESS RELEASE – March 3, 2022

 

East Avenue is closed between Joliet Road and 55th Street for 1-2 weeks, starting March 21, 2024.  See the East Avenue Detour Map above. Access to residences and businesses within the work zone will be maintained throughout construction, which is anticipated to be completed in late 2024.

The $16.8 million improvement project involves reconstructing and realigning the existing intersections, installing modernized traffic signals, ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps, improving drainage and resurfacing East Avenue from 55th Street to Joliet Road.

 

Planners and engineers from Cook County met with the City and Township representatives on October 27, 2023 to discuss the Plainfield Road improvements from County Line Road to East Avenue.  Among other things the project will consist of a complete resurfacing for entire length of the project including widening of the roadway to three lanes, the installation of a bike bath on the south side of the roadway, installation of new sidewalks on the north side of the street, and significant drainage improvements.  Phase II design work is anticipated through 2026 with an earliest possible construction letting in 2027.  Although the proposed improvements will come at no cost to the City, the scope of the meeting covered maintenance requirements from specific jurisdictions including the City.  It was a very thorough and lengthy meeting that gave the City and Township the ability to address critical needs, concerns, and to propose requested changes to the preliminary scope and design of the project during Phase I planning for the project prior to any public hearings.

Click HERE for Plainfield Road Corridor Project.

 

Update 7-8-21:  Click HERE.

 

Virtual Public Information Meeting on April 14, 2021 from 6-7:30 pm.

 

Corridor Advisory Committee Meeting #2  Report – 3-3-21

 

The Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways has initiated the Plainfield Road Corridor Phase 1 Study.

 

The objective of this Phase 1 study is to address the existing roadway and drainage deficiencies, enhance the bicycle/pedestrian accommodations, and improve safety and mobility for all users.

 

The Illinois Department of Transportation has completed preliminary engineering and environmental studies (Phase I) for the improvement of 55th Street from LaGrange Road to East Avenue in the City of Countryside in Cook County. Funding for this improvement is included in the Department’s Fiscal Year 2019-2024 Proposed Highway Improvement Program. Current engineering efforts are targeted to enable a contract letting in the middle years of the current program contingent upon plan readiness, land acquisition, and funding availability through future annual legislative appropriations. The general scope of work for this improvement consists of the addition of a median along 55th Street to safely accommodate left turning vehicles. In addition, at the intersection with LaGrange Road, left turn lanes on all legs of the intersection will be provided. A right turn lane will be provided on both legs of 55th Street and on the south leg of LaGrange Road. The proposed drainage plan includes continuous curb and gutter sections, and improved storm sewer.

 

The Illinois Department of Transportation (Department) has completed preliminary engineering and environmental studies (Phase I) for the improvement of 55th Street from Wolf Road to Brainard Avenue in Cook County.  This project was included in the Joliet Road Feasibility Study, which recommended several roadway improvements to mitigate traffic impacts from the closure of Joliet Road.  This project is included in the Department’s FY 2018-2023 Proposed Highway Improvement Program.  Our current engineering efforts are targeted to enable a contract letting in the middle years of our current multi-year program contingent upon plan readiness, land acquisition, and funding availability through our future annual legislative appropriations.  The general scope of work for this improvement consists of widening and resurfacing 55th Street to provide a median and left turn lanes, adding a southbound right turn lane along Willow Springs Road, traffic signal replacement, pedestrian and bicyclist accommodations, and drainage improvements.

 

A public hearing was held on August 24, 2016 at the Pleasantview Fire Protection District Headquarters Building at 1970 W. Plainfield Road.  For a copy of the Public Hearing Brochure click HERE.

 

July, 2017 Update:  The Illinois Department of Transportation is nearing completion of a preliminary engineering and environmental study (Phase 1) for the improvement.  This project is included in IDOT’s FY 2018-2023 Proposed Highway Improvement Program.  IDOT is targeting a contract letter in the middle years of our current multi-year program contingent upon plan readiness, land acquisition, and funding availability through our future annual legislative appropriations.

 

For further information click HERE.

 

IDOT PROJECT- 55th STREET AND LAGRANGE ROAD INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

 

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is proposing widening 55th Street from East Avenue to LaGrange Road.  This project will include:

This project is included in the IDOT’s 5-year plan for 2018-2023.  If funding is available, IDOT anticipates bidding the project in 2019 or 2020.

 

For further updates click HERE.

 

Please click HERE to view IDOT’s Presentation.

 

Email IDOT for Comments or Concerns: DOT.55thstreet@illinois.gov.

 

 

 

 

This bridge provides passage over the I&M Canal, the Sanitary & Ship Canal, the Des Plaines River and BNSF Railroad. Many utilities were involved in the relocation of water mains, a fuel line and two of ComEd’s towers. This project was due to be completed in November. Workers are finishing the final section on the south end and installing noise walls on the north end. The Tollway plans to open the new mile long bridge to north bound traffic by Thanksgiving. They will then begin demolition of the old north bound bridge making way for the new southbound bridge. This bridge is nearly 5000 ft. long and is constructed of 26 piers and 1 million pounds of concrete. A big shout out to all the men and women working on the Central Tri-State expansion project. The progress made each week is amazing. This project has been an incredible coordination effort of public and private entities lead by Illinois Tollway.

 

Click HERE to view the design video.

 

Click HERE for the fact sheet.

 

Virtual Open House – Click HERE.

 

Slideshow Presentation (specific to Countryside) – Click HERE to view.

 

 

The Illinois Tollway is rebuilding and improving the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) from Balmoral Avenue to 95th Street to provide congestion relief, improve mobility, reconstruct old infrastructure to meet current and future transportation demand and to address regional needs.  Learn more: https://tri-state.consultation.ai/.

 

The technical noise study is now available.  As part of the Central Tri-State Project, a noise study was conducted by Tollway staff to determine current and future noise levels and to evaluate noise abatement structures throughout the corridor. This analysis followed the stipulations outlined in the Tollway’s Traffic Noise Study and Abatement Policy, per federal noise abatement regulations.

 

The Tollway has added new information and resources about noisewall construction for the public.

 

The presentation and exhibits presented at these meetings are available on our website. 

 

The Central Tri-State Tollway Plan will be available to the public in January. Preparations for this project started in 2015 with several planning meetings, and open houses were held in April 2017 at three separate locations. The plans have been finalized, and work will begin in several phases from 2019 through 2025. Improvements on this $4 billion dollar project include: widening and adding extra lanes where needed, the re-configuring and improvement of the I-290/I-294/I-88 interchange, improving the I-55 interchange, new interchanges for local access, and  regional storm water improvements. All of these improvements are fully funded through Tollway revenues. The first part of the project will be the reconstruction of the mile long bridge, which will take place from 2019 – 2023. There is a possibility that 5 homes in Countryside will be purchased by the Tollway. Tollway Officials will be reaching out to those residents in the next few weeks. Countryside is still included on the plan for sound walls in various locations. More information on the project can be found on the Tollway’s website: www.illinoistollway.com/outreach.