159th Street, Cicero Construction Gets New End Date For 1st Stage

OAK FOREST, IL — The new estimated completion date for road work by the Illinois Department of Transportation that has closed a stretch of 159th Street in Oak Forest since the spring has been set for the end of July. Construction to 159th between Cicero and Oak avenues — the first stage in a three-stage project to replace a culvert and make other improvements — is scheduled to finish July 20, the city announced this week.

Originally, work on the IDOT project's first stage, which was started in April, was expected to end by June 2, with the second stage beginning that same month and running through August. The project's third and final stage had been scheduled to start in August and wrap up in November.

A rainy May, however, caused the road work site to be flooded multiple times, creating significant delays, according to the city. The project's timeline also was disrupted because of a ComEd utility delay.

RELATED: 159th Street To Be Closed For Road Construction

Construction work is being done to replace the culvert that carries 159th Street, as well as Cicero Avenue, over Midlothian Creek, according to IDOT. The project also will make intersection improvements, such as updating traffic signals.

Once the first stage is completed, traffic will be allowed on 159th Street, with a left-turn lane from the road and an available lane in each direction. Different lanes of Cicero Avenue will then face closures during the second and third stages.

No new timeline has been released for the construction project's second and third stages.

Go to the City of Oak Forest's website for more information about the Illinois Department of Transportation's construction project for 159th Street and Cicero Avenue.

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