Spring Means Road Construction Season

Spring means the start of the road construction season, and a major project is getting started in our area.

Jeff Myers is Region 4 Engineer for the Illinois Department of Transportation. Region 4 includes District 7 based in Effingham, as well as District 6 based in Springfield. 

The major project getting underway is the resurfacing of I-70 eastbound between Altamont and the Little Wabash River, west of Effingham. Work has begun to relocate all traffic in that area onto the westbound lanes that were redone last year. The project is expected to take most of the year to complete.

Myers said other significant projects in the area this year will include bridge replacement work on US Route 45 south of Effingham. The bridges carry Route 45 over Ramsey Creek and Bishop Creek.

Another project will involve resurfacing Route 45 south of Effingham to the Watson "T" at Illinois Route 37. That project could begin soon as it's on the April state bid letting.

One project everyone asks about is the reconstruction of Fayette Avenue, which was announced as being part of the six-year transportation improvement list.

Myers said Fayette will likely be at the back end of the six-year project window, as design work and parcel acquisition still needs to be completed. He said the work will take a couple of construction seasons to complete.