Construction projects have started on some major area roadways meaning commuters will have some challenges over the next months.
On April 15, the Illinois Department of Transportation was set to start repairing the bridge carrying Waukegan Road over the Union Pacific Railroad, south of Voltz Road in Northbrook.
Commuters can expect to see Waukegan Road narrowed from two lanes to one in each direction over the bridge during the course of the project.
The work is set to completed in October, according to IDOT.
The repairs on the Northbrook section of Waukegan Road started approximately a week after a resurfacing project began on a separate 3.4 mile section of Waukegan Road from Lake-Cook Road on the south going north to Half Day Road (Route 22) on the north.
In a blog post, the village of Deerfield said the resurfacing would result in daily lane closures.
That upgrade is set to be completed in October, IDOT said.
Moving south, IDOT has also started repairing the Tower Road bridge over the Edens Expressway, near Glencoe and Northfield.
The enhancements will require a closure of Tower Road approaching the bridge, according to IDOT.
“The public should also expect various overnight lane closures on the Edens at the bridge during that time,” IDOT noted in a statement. The agency added the work should be completed in August.
Finally, in early April, IDOT began repairs on the Dempster Street bridge over the Edens Expressway, necessitating a reduction from two lanes to one in each direction going over the bridge plus ramp closures.
“Motorists also should expect various lane shifts on both sides of Dempster Street and on the Edens Expressway approaching the bridge. Throughout construction, the outbound Edens ramp to westbound Dempster Street and the inbound Edens ramp to eastbound Dempster Street will be closed,” according to the IDOT statement.
The Village of Skokie added on its website motorists should follow detours to Touhy Avenue to the south and Lake Avenue to the north.
“Traffic signal timing will be temporarily adjusted during the project at Dempster Street and Central Avenue, Dempster Street and Lockwood Avenue, Dempster Street and Gross Point Road, and Touhy Avenue and Skokie Boulevard to account for the Dempster Street lane closures and Touhy Avenue detour,” the Skokie post added.
IDOT believes the Dempster Street repairs should be completed in September.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.