Road and lane closures will be common this summer as part of construction season on roads and highways throughout Northern Illinois.

Road crews are out in force across the region this construction season leaving motorists turning red amidst a sea of orange — barrels, signs, vests, and cones.

According to officials, the state’s current budget issues haven’t impacted the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) construction projects to date.

But the same can’t be said for the future.

Based on a recently released long-term plan outlining spending through 2022, IDOT projects a continued decline in the overall condition of state-maintained roads and bridges despite a slight increase in federal funds, with the passage of a new federal transportation bill last year and a rise in motor fuel tax revenues.

IDOT anticipates spending of $11 billion in projects over the next six years with $2.02 billion projected spending in 2017 and $1.83 billion in each of the remaining five years.

But IDOT said the funds will be not enough. By 2022, the agency estimates that the total number of highway miles in acceptable condition will drop to 61 percent and bridges in acceptable condition will decline to 86 percent.

Currently, 79 percent of highways and 92 percent of bridges maintained by IDOT are deemed to be in acceptable condition.

Illinois Tollway Projects

Work has commenced on Interstate 90 between the Elgin Toll Plaza and the Tri-State Tollway as part of a $2.5 billion project that will result in 62 miles of newly built and widened lanes.

The Illinois Tollway is funded through a user fee system and receives no state or federal funds to maintain its 286 miles of roads.

The project includes reconstruction of the Fox River Bridge and replacement of local crossroad bridges.

Officials estimate that drivers traveling from Elgin to the Kennedy Expressway will save up to 27 minutes on the average trip and save drivers $440 million each year due to reduced congestion and delays.

In addition, road resurfacing will take place on Reagan Memorial Tollway (Interstate 88) between Illinois Route 251 near Rochelle and U.S. Route 30 in Rock Falls, including completion of local crossroad bridge repairs.

In 2016, the Illinois Tollway also will begin reconstruction of the Farnsworth Road Interchange in Aurora and repairs on five bridges along the eastern end of Interstate 88.

With state’s funds for road projects in question, county governments are hoping for federal funds to pay for this year and future year’s construction projects.

Below is a list of current or anticipated projects in area counties.

DeKalb County

The Somonauk Road Bridge over Somonauk Creek will be replaced this summer. During construction, traffic will be reduced to one lane, controlled by temporary traffic signals.

DuPage County

In DuPage County, work is underway by IDOT at the intersection of Illinois 19 (Irving Park Road) and York Road in Bensenville. According to IDOT spokesperson Gianna Urgo, pavement was poured on westbound Irving Park Road east of York Road and on northbound York Road north of Irving Park Road. Pavement work and concrete curb and gutter work are ongoing, she added.

With approximately 25 trains passing through the intersection each day, the $64 million project includes the construction of a bridge to carry the railroad over Illinois 19 and reduce congestion significantly.

The project is expected to be complete by the fall of 2017; in the meantime motorists are expected to experience extensive delays.

An $85 million reconstruction and widening project along Illinois Route 59 between New York Street/Aurora Avenue and Ferry Road was completed in the fall of 2015. However, crews have once again been out on Route 59 installing sidewalks, adding landscaping, and repairing pavement cracks.

The work included noise abatement walls, reconstruction of the Interstate 88 interchange into a divergent diamond, and additional lanes as well as auxiliary right-turn and left turn lanes.

Construction of a highway overpass is continuing on Aurora’s US Route 34 (Ogden Avenue) approximately 1.5 miles west of Illinois Route 59. Urgo estimates that the project is slightly more than halfway completed.

She said, the second bridge was poured in May and paving will begin this summer.

Due to an increase in the number of trains traveling through, IDOT initiated construction of the bridge which will be expanded to accommodate additional railroad tracks including a track for Metra’s Star Line, a proposed commuter railway project.

The project which is expected to be completed by fall, is estimated to cost $27 million.

In addition, the DuPage County Highway Department is patching and resurfacing approximately 38 lane miles of DuPage County highways.

The work should be completed by October and includes Gary Avenue from Lawrence Avenue to Elgin O’Hare and St. Charles Road –from Gary Avenue to Bloomingdale Road in the northern portion of the County and 75th Street East of Plainfield Road to Illinois Route 83, Belmont Road from Ogden Avenue to 63rd Street, Hobson Road from the East Branch DuPage River to I-355, Maple Avenue from Yackley Road to Illinois Route 53.

Kane County

According to Steve Coffinbargar, the Kane County’s Assistant Director of Transportation, construction of the first segment of the Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Corridor project from Huntley/Boyer Roads to west of Randall Road is underway with an anticipated completion for mid-October 2016.

Construction of the remaining segments will occur over the next several years as right of way, permitting, and funding become available, Coffinbargar said. When completed, the project will span portions of the Villages of Algonquin, Carpentersville, and Barrington Hills, as well as unincorporated areas of Kane County.

Work also is scheduled to begin on the construction of the first modern roundabout in the Kane County Highway System at the intersection of Burlington Road and Illinois Route 47.

Coffinbargar said that traffic will be moved to temporary pavement in the coming weeks as part of Stage Two of the project to allow the contractor room to begin construction of the east portion of the roundabout. Completion is scheduled for late fall.

With an anticipated completion date of mid-2016, he said that crews have finished pouring concrete pavement for northeast bound lanes of Illinois 25 to the intersection of Dunham Road. The Stearns Road Bridge Corridor project, opened in 2010, includes 4.6 miles of new road along with a new Fox River Bridge crossing, which is a cooperative effort between Kane County and IDOT.

Kendall County

In Kendall County, utilities have begun to be relocated at part of the reconstruction of U.S. Route 34 from Route 47 to Orchard Road. Construction is set to begin in September and the $33 million project is scheduled to be completed by December 2018.

In 2016, the Kendall County Highway Department is scheduled to begin roadwork on Eldamain Road. The total cost for the Eldamain Road Extension from Highpoint Road to U.S. Route 34 is $50 million; however, it is expected that 80% will be covered by federal funding.

In addition, the County also is scheduled to reconstruct Sherrill Road from Ashley Road to O’Brien Road.

Lake County

Construction is continuing on the Washington Street Underpass in the Village of Grayslake.

The project, which began in late January 2015, is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2016. It consists of widening and reconstructing Washington Street from Haryan Way to Lake Street. In addition, Washington Street will be lowered and a new railroad bridge will be constructed over Washington Street eliminating the current at-grade crossing.

In Round Lake, Metra is closing the railroad crossing at Fairfield Road, north of Illinois Route 134 beginning Wednesday, June 8 to make scheduled repairs to the track and grade crossing. It will reopen on Friday, June 17.

In the Village of Mundelein, east bound traffic on Hawley Street will be prohibited through August as part of reconstruction of Hawley Street to three lanes—one lane in each direction and a center turn lane.

In addition, the water main, sanitary, and storm sew systems will be replaced. A concrete/asphalt bike path will be constructed along with concrete sidewalks and curb, and installation of a new traffic light.

On June 7, the Lake County Division of Transportation will be conducting a public information meeting for residents regarding the intersection of Fairfield Road and Monaville Road in Lake Villa.

McHenry County

In McHenry County, IDOT’s Urgo said that traffic signal installation and paving and landscaping work is ongoing for the Route 14 reconstruction and widening project.

The $48 million dollar IDOT project which began in 2014 is on schedule to be completed in fall 2016. The project which is replacing old pavement and upgrading the road to accommodate current traffic demands was broken down into two construction contracts–West Lake Shore Drive to Lucas Road and Lucas Road to south of Crystal lake Avenue .

Winnebago County

In April 2016, road reconstruction and intersection improvements began at Bell School and East State Street in Rockford.

The Winnebago County Highway Department is the lead agency on the project which includes the reconstruction and widening of Bell School Road to a four-lane road, improvements to the intersection at East State Street including additional turn lanes, and intersection improvements and installation of traffic signals at Walton Street and Argus Drive.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of September 2016 and while all roads will remain open during construction, motorists are advised to seek alternative routes.

In Rockford, Perryville Road between Harrison Avenue and Linden Road will be closed for the replacement of the bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad located just north of By Pass US-20. The work started in May and should be completed by this fall.

— Summer heralds start of road construction in Illinois —