Bishop Ford rehabilitation project update
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that the rehabilitation of the Bishop Ford Freeway (Interstate 94) through Chicago, Dolton, Burnham, Riverdale, Calumet City and South Holland, continues to progress as part of a two-year, $93 million investment to improve and modernize the corridor.
Work completed or started includes:
- Little Calumet River and IHB/CSX railroad bridges – bridge joint reconstruction and latex deck overlays completed.
- Dolton Avenue and Greenwood Avenue bridges – bridge joint reconstruction, deck slab repairs and deck polymer overlays completed.
- Little Calumet River bridge (south) – bridge joint reconstruction, deck slab repairs and latex deck overlays completed. Structural steel repairs began.
- 154th Street bridge – completed repairs to the concrete median pier, installed new bearings and structural steel and removed concrete for bridge deck joint replacements and deck slab repair work.
- Overhead sign structure, north of Sibley Boulevard (Illinois 83) – foundation installed for the new overhead sign, pavement removal completed for median reconstruction work and new guardrail installation.
- 159th Street – began installation of temporary Intelligent Transportation System network.
Current ramp closures:
- Outbound Ford to eastbound Dolton Avenue, anticipated to reopen later this summer.
- Westbound 159th Street to outbound I-94, anticipated to reopen later this summer.
- Inbound Ford to eastbound Sibley Boulevard, anticipated to reopen later this fall.
The public should follow the posted detours. Additional ramp closures for varying durations will be required to complete the project. Schedules and impacts to traffic will be shared closer to the closure dates.
Current bridge closures:
- Michigan City Road bridge closed last summer as part of advance work, anticipated to reopen by the end of this year.
- 154th Street bridge closed in mid-May, anticipated to reopen later this fall.
The public can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Alternate routes are encouraged. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.
Construction is anticipated to continue through December, when the Bishop Ford returns to three lanes in both directions. Work will resume next spring on the inbound side, with the project wrapping up in late 2027.
The overall project consists of patching and resurfacing 9.5 miles of the Bishop Ford from west of Martin Luther King Drive to U.S. 6 (159th Street), replacing overhead sign structures and installing energy-efficient LED lights. The project is rehabilitating the bridges carrying the Bishop Ford over the Indiana Harbor Belt railroad, Dolton Avenue, Greenwood Avenue and the two over the Little Calumet River. The Michigan City Road, 154th Street and U.S. 6 overpasses also will be rehabilitated.
For more information, visit https://idot.click/Bishop-Ford, which features project information, photos and the ability to submit questions and comments to the project team. Find traffic and road conditions at www.gettingaroundillinois.com. You also can follow IDOT on Facebook and X.
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Maria Castaneda
Guy Tridgell
