Full closure on I-55 at I-80 over 3 consecutive nights

CHICAGO — As if the Kennedy Expressway construction isn’t enough, there will be three consecutive nights of Interstate 55 closures at Interstate 88 due to steel beam installation.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced that as part of efforts to rebuild the I-80 bridges over I-55, in Joliet, Channahon and Shorewood, a full closure will be required in both directions of I-55 at I-80 over three nights starting, weather permitting, Monday, July 7.

IDOT says the closures are necessary to safely install steel beams on the I-80 bridge over the expressway.

The following closures will take place Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday:

• Starting at 8 p.m., eastbound and westbound I-80 will be reduced to one lane between River and Houbolt roads.
• Starting at 9 p.m., northbound and southbound I-55 will be reduced to one lane between Illinois 59 and U.S. 6.
• At 11 p.m., the westbound I-80 ramp to southbound I-55 will close.
• At midnight, the eastbound I-80 ramp to northbound I-55 will close.
• Between 1 and 5 a.m. both directions of I-55 will be fully closed at I-80.
• During that time, a detour will direct northbound I-55 traffic to exit at eastbound I-80 to northbound Houbolt Road and reenter westbound I-80 to access northbound I-55.
• Southbound I-55 will be detoured to exit the expressway at westbound I-80 to southbound Ridge Road and reenter eastbound I-80 to access southbound I-55.
• One lane on northbound and southbound I-55 will reopen by 5 a.m. each morning, with all lanes and ramps open by 6 a.m.

The work is anticipated to be completed by 6 a.m. Thursday.

For more information, visit I80will.org.