I-90 overpass construction to close Harlem Road and Rote Road bridges

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Illinois Tollway has announced that construction on two I-90 overpasses will begin this week, resulting in the closure of the Harlem Road and Rote Road bridges.

Starting tomorrow, the Harlem Road Bridge will be closed to traffic, with a detour directing drivers north to I-73. The Rote Road Bridge will also close on Friday, with a detour taking drivers north to Spring Creek.

The Illinois Tollway has indicated that both bridges are too narrow to remain open during the repairs, which are expected to last into next month. However, the exact completion date for the construction is not clear.

In addition to the current closures, traffic on the Rockton Road Bridge is scheduled to be shifted in both directions starting September 24, with a work zone in the middle of the bridge. The left turn lane will be maintained in both directions, although additional traffic shifts are planned for October.

The closures are part of the Illinois Tollway’s 16-year, $15 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. This program includes future pavement and bridge repairs scheduled for 2025 between Rockton Road and Randall Road.

Drivers in the area should prepare for detours and potential delays as construction progresses, with the aim of improving infrastructure as part of the state’s long-term transportation plan.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WTVO. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WTVO staff before being published.