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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. Improvements to the turn lanes and ramps at the Illinois 1 and US 40 interchanges, and ramps at the rest area and weigh station are to be made Weigh station improvements will help to provide for better and more efficient truck movements on this heavily traveled major arterial facility, which carries nearly 21,000 vehicles per day. What will be the impact on traffic? During the preliminary work, township roads will be temporarily closed and US 40 will be reduced to one lane in order to raise local overhead bridges and construct emergency access roads. Reconstruction of the mainline pavement is scheduled to begin March 1, 2002. The 10-mile reconstruction is the first segment of a 21-mile, $135 million reconstruction project on I-70 from the Indiana line westerly to the North Fork of the Embarrass River.
Preliminary work, in advance of the reconstruction work this spring, will begin as the weather permits. This includes raising the height of local road bridges over I-70 to accommodate the new pavement and constructing emergency access roads. Township roads will be temporarily closed for some of that work. In addition, work on US 40 over I-70 began on January 2, 2002. The deck will be replaced and the bridge height raised. US 40 will have one lane of traffic which will be controlled by traffic signals.
On March 1 reconstruction of the I-70 eastbound lanes will start and traffic will be diverted to the westbound lanes. There will be only one lane of traffic in each direction throughout the 10-mile section with the lanes separated by a concrete barrier.
Work on a 2.5-mile section from the Indiana line to west of US 40 will be expedited so all lanes can be open prior to the Memorial Day holiday. US 40, which parallels I-70, will be used as an alternate route in an emergency. However, for nearly two miles before the Indiana line US 40 is marked over I-70, leaving no alternate route. Work on the eastbound lanes will be completed by July 3.
On July 7 work will start on the westbound lanes with one lane in each direction on the new eastbound lanes. The 2.5-mile segment from US 40 to the Indiana line will again be accelerated to assure opening all lanes prior to the Labor Day holiday. The entire project is scheduled for completion by October 31, 2002.
This section of highway was opened in 1969 and its reconstruction is needed to bring it up to current standards that will provide improved safety features and will reduce maintenance costs of the highway. I-70 in Clark County currently carries nearly 21,000 vehicles per day. Project work will include:
The contractor on the project is Walsh Construction Co. of Illinois, from Chicago. They can receive up to $1 million in incentive pay for early completion of the work. The company can also be fined for late completion with no cap on the penalties 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.
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