The second phase of I-255 project begins this weekend. Here’s what you need to know
A major stretch of Interstate 255 that has been closed since February is set to reopen this weekend after months of rehabilitation work.
The second phase, or “switch over,” of the I-255 overhaul is set to begin this weekend, marking the reopening of the northern stretch of the project and closure of the southern section for the next 5 months.
The Illinois Department of Transportation’s first phase of repairs to a crumbling section of I-255, one of many projects under the Rebuild Illinois capital plan, has been underway since February, when all lanes of a roughly 4-mile stretch between I-55/70 at Exit 25 in Collinsville and Exit 20 at I-64 west of Fairview Heights were closed.
The second phase of the project will focus on the section of I-255 which stretches from I-64 to Illinois 15. IDOT is suggesting travelers used signed detour routes that utilize I-55/70 and I-64.
The scope of the project includes resurfacing seven miles of I-255 with asphalt from Collinsville Road to Illinois 15 in addition to “significant bridge repairs,” safety improvements and draining upgrades.
Work is expected to wrap up Nov. 24.
The work on I-255 is expected to cost about $64 million. Illinois Department of Transportation Public Information Officer Paul Wappel said that’s roughly $14 million less than it would cost if it were completed piecemeal over an estimated four years of lane closures.
Funding for the project comes from Illinois’ bi-partisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan aimed to repair large swaths of infrastructure in the state.
The funding for the program comes from the state’s gambling expansion, increased fees at the driver’s services office, doubling of the gas tax and a higher tax on tobacco.
The spending includes:
$33.2 billion for transportation projects.
$4.3 billion for state facilities including deferred maintenance, among other things.
$3.5 billion for education projects.
$1.9 billion for economic and community development.
$1.2 billion for environment and conservation projects.
$465 million for health care and human services.
$420 million for broadband deployment.