New ramp opens Sept. 23 at I-39 and U.S. 20/Harrison Avenue interchange in Cherry Valley

CHERRY VALLEY – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that traffic changes and lane shifts will occur beginning Tuesday, Sept. 23, as part of the reconstruction of the Interstate 39 and U.S. 20/Harrison Avenue interchange in Cherry Valley. The changes are necessary to open the new ramp from southbound I-39 to U.S. 20/Harrison Avenue.

Work will shift traffic exiting southbound I-39 onto the new ramp pavement beginning Tuesday, Sept. 23, and into the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 24. All other I-39 ramps and U.S. 20/Harrison Avenue traffic will be open to traffic and remain in their current configuration. Drivers should anticipate minor interruptions to traffic flow during this operation.

The $44.2 million interchange project is part of a larger $302 million, multiyear project made possible by Gov. JB Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois capital program to improve I-39 between the U.S. 20/Harrison Avenue interchange and Blackhawk Road in Cherry Valley and Rockford. Most of the project is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year, with some final touch-up work to be completed in spring 2026. More information about the I-39 reconstruction project is available on the project webpage.

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. To avoid the work area, when feasible, use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, 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 more than 3,200 miles of highway and nearly 9 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 on 7,897 miles of highway, 815 bridges and 1,181 additional safety improvements.

For IDOT District 2 updates, follow us on X at @IDOTDistrict2 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.