UPDATE 4/16/26: Illinois 23 construction in Ottawa begins March 23
UPDATE 4/16/26: The I-80 ramps to Illinois 23 in Ottawa will be closed for pavement patching from 6 p.m. Monday, April 20, to 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 21. The ramps to I-80 from Illinois 23 will remain open.
DETOURS TO REACH ILLINOIS 23 AND OTTAWA:
From eastbound I-80: Take Exit 81 and go south on Illinois 178 and use U.S. 6 east.
From westbound I-80: Take Exit 93 and go west on Illinois 71.
OTTAWA – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that weather permitting, work will begin on Illinois 23 bridge over Interstate 80 in Ottawa on Monday, March 23.
Work will repair the bridge deck and will include the replacement of expansion joints and the application of a latex overlay. Also, there will be pavement patching between Stevenson Road and Etna Road. There will be one lane open in each direction and all traffic will be shifted to one side of the bridge. Lanes will have a 9-foot, 6-inch width restriction and vehicle length restrictions will be reduced to 70 feet for tight turning movements.
Pavement patching between Stevenson Road and Etna Road will take approximately two to three weeks, and patching near the I-80 entrance and exit ramps will be completed during the off-peak traffic times between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. This $1.8 million project is expected to be completed in October.
Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zone areas, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment.
Over the next six years, IDOT is planning to improve 7,107 lane miles of highway and 8.4 million square feet of bridge deck as part of Rebuild Illinois, which is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation. Accomplishments through Year Six of Rebuild Illinois include almost $20.8 billion of improvements statewide to 21,309 lane miles of highway, 815 bridges and 1,181 additional safety improvements.
For IDOT District 3 updates on X, follow us at @IDOTDistrict3. View area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map at www.GettingAroundIllinois.com.
Kristophere’ Owens
Paul Wappel
