Work on Stage 1 of IDOT’s Windsor Road Bridge project over Interstate 57 is nearing completion and IDOT and their contractor, O’Neil Brothers Construction, is expecting to begin Stage 2 of the project. In preparation for starting Stage 2 work, they will be closing the north side of the bridge and will switch all traffic over to the south side and onto the new structure. One lane of traffic will remain open across the bridge and the temporary traffic signals will continue to operate in Stage 2 as they did during Stage 1. The switch over is expected to occur on or before July 19, depending on weather.
Following the traffic switchover, the next step is to remove the remaining portion of the old bridge. To protect the public from bridge removal operations, Interstate 57 will be closed to all traffic. The work and closures occur during the overnight hours to minimize the impact to interstate traffic and to reduce the volume of traffic that will need to be detoured. This closure is the third of four scheduled closures of Interstate 57 for the bridge work. O’Neil Brothers’ tentative schedule for the next interstate closure is as follows (may change due to weather):
Tuesday, July 23, 2013, overnight from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (July 24th).
Wednesday, July 24, 2013, overnight from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (July 25th).
Thursday, July 25, 2013, overnight from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.(July 26th).
All Interstate 57 traffic will be detoured through Champaign using the following State routes: Neil Street (US Route 45), Springfield Avenue (IL Route 10), Mattis Avenue, and Church/University to Interstate 57. IDOT will provide notice of the interstate closure 48 to 72 hours prior to the actual closure. Police and Fire have been informed of the planned interstate closures and the proposed detour route.
The next anticipated three-day overnight closure of Interstate 57 is expected to occur in mid to late August.
IDOT’s construction contract calls for a final completion date of November 1, 2013. The project construction cost is $2,376,785.