Why did the Department decide to undertake this project?

This section of Interstate 70 was originally opened to traffic in 1969 and has exceeded its original design life.  The reconstruction of this segment is required to reduce the number of accidents, increase and/or improve safety features, reduce the present and future costs of roadway maintenance, and bring the facility up to current standards.  The roadway as a whole is to be reconstructed in accordance with current design practices to improve both operations and safety as well as address poor subsurface pavement conditions on this heavily traveled major arterial facility, which carried nearly 19,400 vehicles per day of which 49% are semi-trucks.

What will be the impact on traffic?

During the preliminary work, township roads will be temporarily closed in order to raise local overhead bridges and construct emergency access roads.

Reconstruction of the mainline pavement is scheduled to begin March 1, 2003.  The 11-mile reconstruction is the second segment of a 21-mile, $135 million reconstruction project on I-70 from the Indiana line westerly to Martinsville.

Preliminary work the summer of 2002 will include patching and resurfacing the westbound lanes of I-70, raising the height of local road bridges over I-70 to accommodate the new pavement, constructing emergency access roads, and constructing median crossovers.  Township roads will be temporarily closed for some of this work.

On March 1, 2003, reconstruction of the I-70 eastbound lanes will start and traffic will be diverted to the westbound lanes (see Construction Schedule for exact details).  The entire project is scheduled for completion by October 31, 2002.

The contractors for this project are a joint venture between Howell Asphalt, Howell Paving, and Champaign Asphalt.

How will the Department assure that the work is completed in a timely fashion?

The contractor will receive an incentive for early completion of the project, and will be penalized if completion is late.