That’s a Wrap for Local I-57 Work
Illinois Department of Transportation officials announced that a series of improvement projects along Interstate 57 have been completed, with another anticipated to wrap up later this year.
The four projects, which involve repairing two bridges and resurfacing nearly 20 miles of interstate highway from Chicago through the south suburbs, represent a total investment of $82.1 million for the region.
“I couldn’t be happier to announce that we have officially completed multiple improvement projects along I-57,” said Gov. JB Pritzker in a press release.
“Thanks to an investment of more than $82 million from our landmark Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan, the South Side and south suburbs will see modernized infrastructure coupled with less congestion and more accessibility. Together, we are building an Illinois that gets people where they’re going—with the promise of opportunity at every turn.”
Projects include:
· I-57 from Steger Road, in University Park, to West County Line Road, in Peotone
The $42.2 million project patched and resurfaced the 13-mile stretch of I-57, including the ramps, rest areas and weigh stations. New ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps were constructed at the rest areas and the weigh-in-motion (WIM) scale and Bluetooth sensors were upgraded. The project started in spring 2022 and was completed in December.
· I-57 bridge over Interstate 80, in Country Club Hills
The $5.2 million project repaired the bridge deck and structural steel and installed a new bridge deck overlay and approaches. The project started in spring 2022 and was completed in December, with landscaping to be finished this spring.
· I-57 bridge over the Canadian National Railroad, in Matteson and Richton Park
The $2.1 million project installed a new bridge deck overlay, replaced joints and repaired structural steel. The project started in spring 2022 and was completed in November.
· I-57 from Interstate 294, in Posen, to Halsted Street (Illinois 1), in Chicago
The $32.6 million project consists of patching and resurfacing the 7.6-mile stretch of I-57, along with replacing large overhead expressway signs. The project started in spring 2022 and is anticipated to be completed this fall.
“The I-57 corridor is a critical piece of the Chicago area expressway system that was in major need of repair,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman in the release.
“This investment is yet another great example of IDOT rebuilding and fixing infrastructure across the state while improving safety and putting people to work.”
“I-57 is an important link for our businesses and residents to the nationwide transportation network,” said Peotone Mayor Peter March. “We appreciate the recent improvements as the I-57 interchange is the gateway to our community.”
“We are pleased that these various bridge projects completed by the Illinois Department of Transportation along the I-57 corridor will help facilitate a substantial amount of truck traffic and access to various developments within the Village of Matteson,” said Matterson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin.
“The village looks forward to our continued partnership in the maintenance of the regional infrastructure here in the Southland.”
In addition to the projects in the Chicago area, Rebuild Illinois is improving I-57 throughout Illinois, including bridge replacements in Kankakee, a rebuilt interchange with Interstate 74 in Champaign-Urbana, and capacity upgrades in southern Illinois.
These projects are among those included in Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois program, which is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation.