Heading 'Up North' Memorial Day? Get Ready for 37 Miles of Road Construction

Speeding will cost you in the 37 miles of the I-90 under construction between Elgin and Rockford.

Before drivers take to the roads to begin the summer travel season this Memorial Day weekend, the Illinois Tollway is reminding drivers that the speed limit in construction work zones is 45 mph, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of whether workers are present.  The Illinois Tollway expects approximately 7 million vehicles will travel the Tollway system this Memorial Day holiday from Friday, May 24, through Tuesday, May 28, with the heaviest travel anticipated on Friday, May 24, when nearly 1.7 million vehicles are projected to be on the road. On an average day, about 1.4 million vehicles use the Tollway. “This weekend marks the beginning of the busy summer travel season on the Tollway and we want our customers to stay safe,” …

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Warm Weather Favors Route 64 Work in St. Charles

Contractor on pace to wrap up several segments of work in the coming week or so, city official says.

The unseasonably warm temperatures have been favorable for continued work on the Main Street/Route 64 reconstruction project, even though much of the work is on hiatus for the winter months. St. Charles Public Works Engineering Division Manager James Bernahl, in his regular email to residents and business owners who signed up for regular updates on the massive, $49.2 million reconstruction project, said the weather and temperatures are forecast to be favorable over the weekend and the beginning of this week. The contractor, Bernahl wrote, is continuing to move along primarily on roadway work for the next few weeks. Following is Bernahl’s summary of the work coming up on the project: The contractor is scheduling to frame and pour turn lanes…

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What’s Up Next on Route 64? Find Out Oct. 30

St. Charles and state highway officials to meet with community, business interests to provide an update on the project during an open house at the Municipal Center.

If you’ve been wondering — and who hasn’t — if the road reconstruction work on East Main Street (Route 64) in St. Charles will ever really end, an answer may be on the way. St. Charles officials and representatives of the Illinois Department of Transportation have scheduled an open house from from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, to provide an update on the project and answer questions from residents and the business community affected by the project. According to a release from the city, the open house is part of a continuing effort by the city and the Illinois Department of Transportation to keep the community and local businesses informed about the work. “Both city and IDOT staff will provide updates on the current status of the project,” …

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UPDATE: Route 64 Lane Openings Are From Dunham to Powis

The clock is ticking down toward a four-month lull in construction before the final surge begins in the spring toward completion of the $49 million project.

Evening drivers on Route 64/East Main Street in St. Charles might notice something different about their commute — on most days, two lanes will be open in each direction from Dunham Road to Powis Road. The city issued a statement this week that two eastbound and two westbound lanes from Dunham to Powis also will be open on the weekends, when construction crews are not working. The St. Charles City Council learned earlier this month that construction will shut down about Nov. 15, leaving drivers four lanes of traffic during the winter season through March 2013. Construction is expected to resume in April 2013, and the completion of the $49 million road reconstruction project is expected in late summer or fall of 2013. The project …

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Coming in November: Four Lanes on Route 64

Work on the project is supposed to wrap up for the season in mid-November, when the road will re-open to four-lane traffic — until the next phase of construction begins in the spring.

Those who make periodic commutes through St. Charles’ East Main Street corridor have sweated construction and the associated traffic congestion for months. The bad news is the project’s is not scheduled for completion until late next summer or fall. The good news is there will be a reprieve. The St. Charles City Council, which met Monday evening as its own Government Service Committee, learned that the Illinois Department of Transportation will require the contractor to cease activity and open four lanes of traffic on the roadway by mid-November. City Engineering Division Manager Jim Bernahl told the aldermen that work on the massive project is on schedule, although officials had hoped, because of the dry summer, to actually be ahead of …

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Route 64 Closure Has Some Asking: When Will Construction End?

Route 64 reopened Tuesday night after two gas lines breaks about noon had sections of highway closed for 7½ hours. Travel along the thoroughfare has been congested and sometimes slow because of a two-year construction project that began in this spring.

The dynamics of the Tuesday night rush changed significantly on Route 64 as motorists sought out alternate routes after two separate gas leaks forced the closure of the highway, already in the throes of a $49 million reconstruction. One leak occurred about noon at 4051 E. Main St., east of Pheasant Run Resort, but Nicor crews had shut that one down by 1:30 p.m., according to the St. Charles Fire Department. The larger break,however, which also occurred about noon at Powis Road and Route 64, too much longer to resolve. The Illinois Department of Transportation said Wednesday the highway did not reopen until about 7:30 p.m. While some local traffic was allowed on the highway after the first gas line break was shut down, the problems did …

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Route 47 Construction Will Push Traffic to Route 38 and Route 64

Construction update: The good news is the east leg of Route 64 traffic will be open as of Aug. 14. The bad news is Route 47 traffic south of Route 64 will be detoured.

The Illinois Department of Transportation is tentatively on schedule to open the east leg of Route 64 to through traffic by Aug. 13, 2012, according to a report by state Rep. Kay Hatcher. That's the good news. The bad news is that the south leg of Route 47 is scheduled to be closed on Aug. 14 for pavement reconstruction. All northbound and southbound through traffic on Route 47 south of the intersection will be detoured along Route 38, LaFox Road and Route 64. The road closure is expected to last until Oct. 31, Hatcher said. The north leg (Route 47) and west leg (Route 64) will still be open to traffic while under staged construction. IDOT officials anticipate completion by Oct. 31. "I hope you'll find this helpful for your summer travel …

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UPDATE: New Road Construction Project Announced for St. Charles

IL 25 will be closed south of Fox Glen Drive for three weeks to repair a culvert at Norton Creek.

It's summer in Illinois and that means road construction. St. Charles residents who have to brave East Main Street on a daily basis well know the travails of road construction. Long lines of cars surrounded by the dusts of road construction as the Illinois Department of Transportation adding and widening lanes, new lighting and repairs bridge work along a nearly six-mile stretch of road between downtown St. Charles and DuPage Airport in West Chicago.The $39 million project is slated to be completed next year. Now IDOT announced a new project in St. Charles beginning July 23. IL 25 will be closed just south of Fox Glen Drive for three weeks while IDOT repairs a culvert at Norton Creek. Motorists should use alternate routes or follow the …

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On the Roads

Bridge Construction Closes Portion of Silver Glen Road

Gas prices hold steady for the week and the Red Gate Bridge web site adds a new feature to view project progress.

The Red Gate Bridge project website has added a webcam to view the bridge's progress. Here's a look at some ongoing construction projects that might affect your commute.  Construction Follow St. Charles Patch on Facebook! Gas Prices Gas prices held steady this week at $3.89 per gallon. Price information is provided by GasBuddy.com as of 7 a.m. Wednesday.

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On the Roads

Reprieve, No More: Gas Prices Rise Again, Utility Work Starts

Sanitary sewer work will continue to cause delays and traffic congestion through St. Charles.

St. Charles School District 303 has posted a note on its website asking families to be patient with busing service during ongoing construction projects. The safety of students is the district's top priority and delays are possible in getting students to and from school. Following are a few construction projects throughout St. Charles that might affect your route and residential parking: Follow St. Charles Patch on Facebook. Gas Prices Gas prices spiked since last week's price of $3.74 per gallon. Price information is provided by GasBuddy.com as of 7 a.m. Wednesday. Note: Costco had the lowest gas prices at $3.79, but a membership is required

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