Updates on Route 30: Early November Conditions

New Lenox Village Engineer Will Nash provided the latest information on the ongoing Route 30 construction project, including updates on traffic patterns and road closures.

At the moment, Anderson Road will remain closed until next week. The mainline pavement has been poured through the intersection. The contractor has installed the side street pavement except for the small area of surface asphalt.

• Once Anderson Road is opened, Spencer Road will be closed to be reconstructed.

• New Concrete has been placed from the west end of the project to the middle of the Hickory Creek Plaza across from Lincoln-Way Central High School. At that point, the contractor is expected to leave gaps at the private driveways and side streets as required to allow access.
• The contractor installed asphalt pavement east and west of Schoolhouse Road. This will complete asphalt base course through New Lenox.

According to Nash, the plan calls for the installation of concrete for the east half of Retail Drive.  Once the east side of the intersection is complete, they'll move onto the west side. The contractor is expected begin shifting traffic to the east side of the intersection next week. This will provide a complete intersection prior to the holiday rush.

• Joliet Highway is currently closed while the contractor builds the intersection up to the sub-grade for the new road. However, the contractor has encountered some underground utility issues, which will be addressed this week.

Nash said, "This road should be open in two weeks. We have placed signs along Route 30 directing traffic looking to access Bluestone Commons to the entrance just west of Joliet Highway.

• Due to the closure of Joliet Highway, "I have told the contractor he cannot move forward with the staged construction of Schoolhouse Road until Joliet Highway is complete. There will be concrete pavement placed just east and west of the existing pavement this year with some temporary asphalt placed to transition for the new pavement to existing pavement.  The staged construction of the intersection will take place in the spring."

The right-in-right-out near Portillo’s and Chili’s restaurants is anticipated to be closed until this mainline pavement is constructed. They will be placing the new concrete next week, which is anticipated to allow the right-in-right out to open in a couple weeks, said Nash.

• The contractor paved from just west of Schoolhouse Road to the east on Monday. Next on the list of details to address, is paving the new concrete from near Retail Drive to the east. This aspect is expected to take until the middle of next week to complete.
• The contractor will be closing the east entrance to the Hickory Creek Plaza with access to the Plaza from the west entrance.

In addition, plans indicate that the contractor will leave a gap at the Peace Lutheran Church and closing the entrance to the Atrium Pointe. "This will allow access to the church and Atrium Pointe via the church and Schoolhouse Road," he explained. 

All the work mentioned above is dependent on weather and the possibility of unforeseen utility issues. 

The contractor plans to have the eastbound two lanes of new pavement constructed by Thanksgiving and, as weather permits, continue to construct the middle lanes, left turn lanes and curb and gutter.  If the weather cooperates they are hoping to have the intersection at Vancina Street and Retail Drive complete by Thanksgiving.

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