Gov. Pritzker Outlines 6-Year Construction Project For I-80

NEW LENOX, IL — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker made a surprise visit to New Lenox Monday to push the Rebuild Illinois project in Will County. Improvements along heavily-traveled Interstate 80 will include work on roadways, interchanges and bridges, Pritzker said.

The $1.2 billion I-80 project will take place over the next six years and cover 16 miles of road on the interstate in Will County, according to the governor.

"This rebuild will transform 16 miles of I-80, redesign auxiliary lanes and interchanges to reduce congestion, and rehabilitate over 30 bridges along the roadway," Pritzker said. "These overdue improvements will not only make it safer for commercial drivers, but for the thousands of families who rely on I-80 to commute to work, drive their kids to school, and move safely through their daily lives."

As part of the infrastructure improvements, the state will construct pedestrian and bicycle paths, along with 8 miles of noise walls along I-80, Pritzker said.

Construction on I-80 started during the summer to replace eastbound bridges over Hickory Creek, Richards Street and Rowell Avenue. Work also began on westbound bridges over Richards Street in Joliet, Rockdale and New Lenox, and toward widening eastbound I-80 from Gardner Street to Rowell Avenue, according to the Governor's Office.

Similar improvements on westbound I-80 are scheduled to begin next year when the eastbound work is completed.

Starting next year, construction will move to the section of I-80 from Ridge Road to the DuPage River. Final engineering is also scheduled to be completed on the replacement of the Des Plaines River bridges next year, according to the Governor's Office.

In 2023, improvements are scheduled to begin from Ridge Road to U.S. Route 30. Construction of the Des Plaines River bridges, and Center Street and U.S. Route 52/Illinois Route 53 interchanges are scheduled for 2026 and 2027.

To help build the workforce needed for the project, the Illinois Department of Transportation has partnered with South Suburban Community College in South Holland and Dawson Technical Institute of Kennedy King College in Chicago to provide a highway construction careers training program, with a focus on female and minority students, according to the Governor's Office.

"Improving I-80 is a critical step in ensuring that our infrastructure is prepared to meet the growing transportation demands throughout the region," said Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant. "Will County is the largest inland port in North America, serving as a key connection between the Chicagoland region and the rest of the country. I'm grateful for the efforts of Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly in prioritizing this important project."

The state legislature passed the Rebuild Illinois legislation in 2019 and allocated $33.2 billion toward the state's transportation systems. During the second year of Rebuild Illinois, officials said the state has made approximately $5.2 billion in improvements to more than 3,000 miles of highways and nearly 300 bridges, as well as almost 450 additional safety improvements.

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