VIDEO: Route 30, Like You'll Never See it Again

After decades of planning, the Route 30 widening project has begun. Last month, the Illinois Department of Transportation , and construction will continue throughout the summer.

So get a last glimpse of how Route 30 looks now, because by fall 2012 the road will be more than twice as wide, and new businesses are expected to start filling the empty spaces along the historic highway.

The project involves reconstructing the roadway, building a second lane in both directions and adding a raised concrete median for nine miles on U.S. 30 through New Lenox, Frankfort and Mokena. The median will be replaced by a bidirectional turn lane between Williams Street and the west entrance to the Lincoln-Way High School campus just west of Schoolhouse Road in New Lenox. Turn lanes will be added at other intersections.
 
The first stage of construction will require removing trees and constructing temporary pavement. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained through the work zone, though some temporary lane closures with flaggers present during daytime hours should be anticipated.
 
Later this summer, construction of the new lanes and the new storm sewer system will begin.
 
Other project features include new curbs, gutters and an improved storm water drainage system. Bike paths and sidewalks, where they are requested by the local community, will be built on either side of U.S. 30. Sound walls will be added at intermittent locations along the segment between Williams Street and U.S. 45. The U.S. 30 bridge over Hickory Creek in Frankfort also will be widened to accommodate the additional lanes.
 
Traffic signals will be added at West Circle Drive/Joliet Highway in New Lenox, Ridgemore Road/Owens Road in Mokena, Locust Avenue in Frankfort, 80th Avenue in Frankfort and Hunter Woods Drive/Frankfort Square Drive in Frankfort
 
The entire project is scheduled to be complete and the four lanes open to traffic in fall 2012. F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen & Associates, of Chicago, is the prime contractor on the $72.7 million project.
 
For more information on the U.S. 30 reconstruction and widening, including a map of the work zone, visit http://www.dot.il.gov/usroute30/index.html.