Nine road projects that could alter your commute through Madison County

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Friday that Madison County has nine ongoing or upcoming construction projects slated for the next two years on state-maintained roads.

The projects include replacing the New Chain of Rocks Bridge on Interstate 270 over the Mississippi River and a remodeled intersection at Illinois Routes 162 and 157 in Glen Carbon.

“Thousands of commuters use I-64 and I-55 to get where they need to go on a daily basis,” Assistant House Majority Leader Katie Stuart said in a Friday statement from the department. “Projects like this ensure a safer and smoother ride for years to come.”

The metro-east construction is part of the statewide Rebuild Illinois program, first passed in 2019, which is aimed at tackling a backlog of deferred maintenance on state roads.

The $44.8 billion program is the first multiyear capital plan for Illinois since 2009 aimed at improving infrastructure in every county in the state. The program began in 2020 as a six-year program, but Illinois Department of Transportation spokesperson Paul Wappel said it’s a revolving program with current projects expected to continue through 2028.

The Rebuild Illinois projects in Madison County are expected to cost a total of $614.8 million over the next two years.

Here’s what you can expect on Madison County roads:

Ongoing projects

New Chain of Rocks Bridge replacement

The nearly $500 million replacement of the Chain of Rocks Bridge at Interstate 270 that began in 2022 continues this year.

The Illinois Department of Transportation plans to replace the 60-year-old bridge with two new bridges with wide shoulders and room for a proposed expansion of Interstate 270 to six lanes.

Officials estimate the second bridge will open late this year with the entire project slated for completion next summer.

A statement from the department said drivers can expect nighttime lane closures with two lanes open in each direction.

Road closures at Illinois Routes 162/157

The intersection at Illinois Routes 162 and 157 in Glen Carbon is undergoing a $17.5 million reconstruction and bridge replacement.

A statement from the village said the intersection will be closed through October. Officials expect Route 157 and eastbound Route 162 to reopen, while westbound 162 will remain closed through next summer.

The statement said the project will replace a bridge on Route 157 and change a set of offset intersections to a traffic stop that aligns the eastbound and westbound legs of Route 162.

The Cabin at Judy Creek and a nearby parking lot for the MCT Nature Trail are anticipated to stay open during the closures, according to the statement.

Illinois Department of Transportation spokesperson Dawn Johnson said drivers can expect marked detours in a Friday release.

Route 3 resurfacing from Granite City to McKinley Bridge

A milling and resurfacing project on a nearly seven-mile stretch of Illinois Route 3 is scheduled to finish this summer.

The $25 million project includes two sections: one from Northgate Industrial Drive in Granite City to Broadway Street in Venice, and another from McKinley Bridge to Illinois Route 3 in Venice.

Johnson said in a release that drivers should anticipate daily lane closures on off-peak hours until the project is completed.

SIU Northern Access Road bridge replacement

A two-year project to replace a bridge over a railroad on SIU Northern Access Road in Edwardsville is set to wrap up this summer.

A release from the Illinois Department of Transportation said the $4.6 million project will keep one lane open in each direction.

Upcoming projects

Interstate 55/70 resurfacing closures

Eastbound and westbound legs of Interstate 55/70 will undergo separate, 24-day closures during a $29 million resurfacing and bridge repair project that will begin later this summer.

The project spans from near Fairmount Park Casino & Racing to just under half a mile east of Illinois Route 159 in Collinsville and includes ramps at Black Lane and Illinois Routes 157 and 159.

Following directional closures, Johnson said there will be some lane closures during off-peak hours until the project is completed next fall.

Two-year Illinois Route 3 structure replacement in Granite City

The superstructure at Illinois Route 3 over the former Army depot in Granite City will be replaced in a two-year project starting this fall.

Johnson said the $17.6 million project will reduce traffic to one lane in each direction.

Interstate 255 resurfacing to Interstate 270

Interstate 255 will undergo a $6.6 million dollar resurfacing project later this summer into the fall.

Johnson said drivers should expect single-lane closures during the day and double-lane closures at night from Interstate 270 to the St. Clair County line near Cahokia Mounds.

Illinois Route 255 resurfacing in Godfrey

A section of Illinois Route 255 from Illinois Route 67 to Seminary Road in Godfrey will be resurfaced this fall.

Johnson said the $7.8 million project will reduce traffic to one lane in each direction.

New roundabouts on Illinois Route 3 in Godfrey

Illinois Route 3 is getting two new roundabouts in Godfrey.

An estimated $10.5 million project to replace intersections at Delmar Avenue and Pierce Lane is slated to start this summer and set to finish in summer 2028.

Johnson said drivers can expect “various lane restrictions” but said two-lane traffic will be maintained.

This story was originally published July 1, 2026 at 1:42 PM.