Wood Street/Ashland Avenue lane closures begin May 4

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that as part of ongoing improvements on Wood Street/Ashland Avenue from south of Thornton Road, in Dixmoor, to 158^th Street, in Harvey, municipal water main replacement will require intermittent daytime lane closures beginning, weather permitting, Monday, May 4.

The public should expect various lane closures on both sides of Wood Street/Ashland Avenue from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, with at least one lane in both directions open. ​

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.

The overall $98.9 million improvement project is completely rebuilding Wood Street/Ashland Avenue between 138^th and 161^st streets. A new storm sewer system, curbs, gutters and lighting will be installed and municipal water mains replaced. The bridge over the Little Calumet River will be rehabilitated and a new multi-use path will be constructed on the west side of South Wood Street between 144^th and 149^th streets. The project will improve capacity, add turn lanes, modernize traffic signals, implement smoother and safer railroad crossings and include landscaping and aesthetic enhancements.

Work to rebuild the more than 90-year-old infrastructure started in early 2023, multiple unforeseen utility conflicts were discovered requiring additional utility relocations before construction could proceed. As a result, additional time is needed to complete the project, now anticipated to be completed in 2029.

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 more information on IDOT projects, click here. Find traffic and road conditions at www.gettingaroundillinois.com. You also can follow IDOT on Facebook and X.

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