This section of Interstate 70 was constructed in 1969 (33 years ago) and it has outlived its 20 year design life.  Reconstruction is needed to bring the highway up to current design standards that will provide improved safety features and will reduce maintenance costs.

The Illinois Department of Transportation is raising and reconstructing 10 miles of the eastbound and westbound I-70 pavement with a 30 year pavement design from the Indiana state line to approximately one mile west of Illinois 1.  I-70 bridges over Illinois 1, Big Creek, Little Creek, Crooked Creek, and Hawks Creek will also be reconstructed.

The US 40 bridge over I-70 will be raised and rehabilitated, the highway approaches to the bridge will be resurfaced, and the interchange ramps will be realigned and reconstructed.  The Illinois 1 interchange ramps will also be realigned and reconstructed and the highway approaches will be resurfaced.  The intersection of Illinois 1 and Trefz Drive will be widened and the traffic signals updated.

Local road bridges over I-70 at Township Road 107, Township Road 272A, Township Road 340, and County Highway 20 will be raised to accommodate the new I-70 pavement, and the pavement of those roadways will be reconstructed for 1000 feet on both sides of the interstate.