The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced a $32.6 million project to replace the Interstate 74 bridges over the Canadian National Railway yard and Market Street will begin Monday, Aug. 3. The project is made possible by Governor JB Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois capital program.
Starting Monday, weather permitting, overnight work will begin with the installation of temporary lighting and pavement to accommodate two lanes of traffic in each direction while the bridges are replaced in 2021 and 2022. In mid-August, weather permitting the Neil Street ramp to eastbound I-74 will close, with traffic detoured to the Prospect Avenue ramp to access the interstate. All lanes and ramps will reopen in November.
Next spring, the project resumes with the replacement of the I-74 eastbound bridges, with traffic switched to westbound I-74. In 2022, the work zone flips, with traffic switched to the new eastbound bridges while the westbound bridges are replaced. The Neil Street ramp to eastbound I-74 will be closed both construction seasons.
The entire project wraps up in late 2022.
Several areas of I-74 will be under construction in the next couple years due to funding available from the Rebuild Illinois program. A railroad overpass in St. Joseph, the I-57/74 interchange and the Batestown Road and Catlin-Tilton Road bridges over I-74 near Danville are all scheduled to be replaced.
