IDOT to Begin Final Year of Work on IL 50 at 127th Street/I-294 Reconstruction Project

    SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Feb. 23 The final year of the
reconstruction project for IL 50 (Cicero Avenue) at 127th Street and the
Tri-State Tollway (I-294) in the Village of Alsip will begin on March 1,
weather permitting, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced today.
    The two-year $32.5 million project is part of Governor George H. Ryan's
Illinois FIRST program.  The project is designed to ease congestion and
improve safety at this heavily traveled intersection.
    The focus of work during the 2001 construction season will be to
reconstruct both IL 50 and 127th Street, including the addition of double left
turn lanes on all legs of the intersection.  Motorists are advised to expect
delays and to plan ahead.  The entire project is to be completed in
mid-November 2001.
    The planned 2001 construction schedule is as follows:

    -- Reconstruction of southbound IL 50 (March to July)
    All traffic on IL 50 will be shifted onto the northbound lanes with one
    lane in each direction from Cal-Sag Road to 123rd Street as crews
    reconstruct the southbound lanes of Cicero Avenue.

    -- Reconstruction of eastbound 127th Street (March to July)
    All traffic on 127th Street will be shifted onto the westbound lanes with
    one lane in each direction from the Cal-Sag Channel to Kostner Avenue
    as crews reconstruct the eastbound lanes of 127th Street.

    -- Permanent closure of northbound IL 50 movement from southbound I-294
       (March)
    The northbound IL 50 movement from the southbound I-294 exit ramp will be
    permanently closed.  The traffic signal at this location will be de-
    activated and the newly installed traffic signals at 128th Place will be
    turned on.  Motorists then will be able to 'free flow' onto southbound
    IL 50.  To travel northbound on IL 50, motorists will be directed to
    use the recently opened southbound I-294 exit ramp to 127th Street and
    then make a left turn to Cicero Avenue.

    -- Temporary closing of southbound I-294 exit ramp to southbound IL 50 (
       (April to June)
    The southbound I-294 exit ramp to southbound IL 50 will be temporarily
    closed in early April to make needed ramp improvements.  Motorists will be
    directed to use the recently opened southbound I-294 exit ramp to 127th
    Street and then make a left turn to Cicero Avenue.  This ramp is to re-
    open in mid-June.  Other temporary and off peak lane closures will
    occur on I-294 in conjunction with work being on the IL 50 and 127th
    Street overpasses.

    -- Open new southbound I-294 entrance ramp from 127th Street (June)
    The old southbound I-294 entrance ramp from 127th Street will be
    permanently closed and the new, relocated ramp will be opened.

    -- Reconstruction of northbound IL 50 (July to November)
    All traffic on IL 50 will be shifted onto the new southbound lanes with
    one lane in each direction from Cal-Sag Road to 123rd Street as crews
    reconstruct the northbound lanes of Cicero Avenue.

    -- Reconstruction of westbound 127th Street (July to November)
    All traffic on 127th Street will be shifted onto the new eastbound lanes
    with one lane in each direction from the Cal-Sag Channel to Kostner Avenue
    as crews reconstruct the westbound lanes of 127th Street.

    Other improvements to be made during 2001 include new drainage along IL 50
and 127th Street and noise barrier wall installation along southbound I-294
from 127th Street to 131st Street.
    Information regarding this and other state highway improvement projects in
the Chicago metropolitan area can be obtained by visiting the IDOT web site at
http://www.dot.state.il.us and clicking the link to Projects.