The Interstate 74 and Interstate 155 project near Morton began in 2013 and is expected to be completed sometime in 2016. The project originally was bid out at a cost of $85 million. (Photo from Kaskaskia Engineering Group)

The Illinois Department of Transportation reopened ramps from northbound Interstate 155 onto westbound Interstate 74 and from westbound I-74 onto southbound I-155 on Nov. 21.

Detours along Morton Avenue or Pinecrest Drive are no longer needed.

Although construction will come to a close for the season very soon,  the work zone speed limits will be in effect throughout the winter. Crews will resume work in the spring when they will shift to the Morton Avenue interchange and the nearby stretch of eastbound I-74.

The interchange had been closed for several months as part of an $85 million, multi-year improvement project on Interstates 74 and Interstates 155 that began in 2013 to update and improve access between I-74 and I-155.

Kaskaskia Engineering Group, LLC (KEG) served on the project design team for the reconstruction of the of I-74/I-155 interchange near Morton.

The design consisted of the reconstruction of just over three miles of I-74 from Mueller Street Bridge to the I-74/Morton Avenue Interchange and adding a lane in each direction to provide a six-lane interstate facility.  

The project also includes the reconstruction of I-155 for approximately one  mile from south of I-74 to just north of the Illinois Route 98 interchange.  

In its entirety,  the project includes the following:

• Remove and replace the pavement on I-74 and I-155
• Add a through traffic lane on both eastbound and westbound I-74 to provide three lanes total in each direction of travel
• Reconfigure the I-74/I-155 interchange
• Replace the bridges on I-74 over I-155 and Jackson Street
• Remove the tunnels on Jefferson Street under I-74 and add bridges
• Remove the bridges over the abandoned railroad on I-74 and build roadway in their place
• Reconstruct on and off ramps at the I-74/Morton Avenue interchange
• Install traffic signals on Morton Ave. at the I-74/Morton Ave. interchange
• Construct median barrier wall on I-74 between the eastbound and westbound lanes
• Install highway lighting on I-74 and I-155
• Install Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) elements for traffic monitoring
• Install drainage features

For IDOT Region 3, District 4 updates, go to http://www.idot.illinois.gov/about-idot/idot-regions/idot-region-3/index

Objectives of the I-74/I-155 project

• Improve interchange and Interstate safety
• Improve traffic flow
• Improve deteriorating structures
• Improve the I-74/I-155 interchange configuration and efficiency
• Improve capacity on I-74 and I-155

—   I-74/I-155 ramps reopened after months of construction —