Weekend work sets up a new Joliet traffic pattern
Joliet drivers should prepare for a series of lane restrictions and ramp closures on Interstate 80 beginning Saturday night, followed by a new westbound configuration expected to remain in place for roughly a month. The Illinois Department of Transportation said the changes are weather-dependent and will affect the stretch between Chicago Street, which carries U.S. Route 52 and Illinois Route 53, and Houbolt Road.
The first major restriction is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, when westbound I-80 will be reduced to one lane between Chicago Street and Houbolt Road. IDOT also plans temporary overnight stoppages from midnight until 7 a.m. Those holds will last no longer than 15 minutes at a time. The agency expects the temporary closures to be lifted by noon Sunday, although the schedule can change because of weather and other conditions.
| Time | Planned work |
|---|---|
| 8 p.m. Saturday | Westbound I-80 reduced to one lane |
| Midnight-7 a.m. | Temporary full stops of up to 15 minutes |
| 7 p.m. Sunday | One lane westbound; Larkin Avenue ramps closed |
| By 6 a.m. Monday | Lanes expected to reopen in the new pattern |
Sunday night brings ramp closures
At 7 p.m. Sunday, westbound I-80 will again narrow to one lane from Chicago Street to Houbolt Road. At the same time, the westbound ramps connecting I-80 with Larkin Avenue, or Illinois Route 7, will close. Additional full stops are planned between midnight and 5 a.m., also limited to periods of no more than 15 minutes.
IDOT said the work is expected to be completed early Monday, with lanes reopening by 6 a.m. The agency plans to have the new traffic arrangement operating by the start of the workweek. That timing leaves commuters, delivery drivers and other motorists facing a changed roadway immediately after the weekend construction period.
Concrete barriers will divide westbound lanes
Under the configuration scheduled to begin Monday, westbound I-80 will continue to have two lanes. After Center Street, however, the lanes will separate and run on opposite sides of concrete barriers while work proceeds in the center lane. The split is designed to maintain through traffic while construction continues within the work zone.
Drivers seeking the Larkin Avenue exit will need to follow signs and move into the right lane before the split. The left lane will remain a through lane, and motorists using it will not be able to exit until Houbolt Road. The two westbound lanes are expected to join again just before Houbolt Road.
“The public should be aware of the changes, prepare to merge early, and anticipate some delays in the first few days of the configuration,” IDOT said.
What Joliet motorists should watch
The arrangement creates several immediate decisions for drivers traveling west through Joliet. Motorists should pay close attention to signs before Center Street, particularly if they need Larkin Avenue. The weekend restrictions also mean that a route that normally relies on the westbound I-80 ramps may require advance planning.
- Expect westbound lane reductions between Chicago Street and Houbolt Road.
- Plan for overnight stops of up to 15 minutes during the scheduled work windows.
- Choose the right lane early for the Larkin Avenue exit.
- Remember that the left lane will continue to Houbolt Road without an exit before then.
IDOT said all schedules remain subject to change because of multiple factors, including weather. The agency also indicated that a similar split-lane configuration will be needed later this fall for eastbound construction. For Joliet residents and the commercial traffic moving through the I-80 corridor, the weekend closures are the first step in a longer period of shifting lanes and altered access.
