More lane changes and closures are coming along Interstate 80 in Joliet beginning Saturday night, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
New split-lane configurations are expected to be in place beginning on Monday morning, weather permitting. Those are expected to be in place for about a month, IDOT said.
Starting at 8 p.m. Saturday, westbound I-80 will be reduced to one lane from Chicago Street (U.S. Route 52/Illinois Route 53) to Houbolt Road.
Between midnight and 7 a.m., full stops for no longer than 15 minutes at a time will take place, IDOT said.
These temporary overnight lane closures are expected to reopen by noon Sunday, IDOT said.
Starting at 7 p.m. Sunday, westbound I-80 will be reduced to one lane from Chicago Street to Houbolt Road.
At the same time, the westbound I-80 ramps to and from Larkin Avenue (Illinois Route 7) will close. Between midnight and 5 a.m., full stops for no longer than 15 minutes at a time will take place, IDOT said.
The work is expected to be finished early Monday, with lanes reopened by 6 a.m. and the new traffic pattern in place, IDOT said.
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New configurations
Beginning Monday, there will continue to be two westbound lanes, with the lanes splitting after Center Street and separated by concrete barriers. The work zone will be in the center lane, IDOT said.
Drivers will be directed by signs to stay to the right at the split to access the Larkin Avenue exit, IDOT said.
The left lane will continue as a through lane, and motorists will not be able to exit until Houbolt Road. The lanes will merge back together just before Houbolt Road, IDOT said.
“The public should be aware of the changes, prepare to merge early, and anticipate some delays in the first few days of the configuration,” IDOT said in a news release announcing the lane shifts.
All schedules are subject to change due to multiple factors, including weather.
Later this fall, a similar split-lane configuration will be required to build the eastbound center lanes, IDOT said.
For more information, visit I80will.org.
