Westbound I-80 in Joliet Splits Monday: IDOT's New Lane Pattern Puts the Work Zone in the Middle for About a Month

Drivers on westbound Interstate 80 through Joliet meet a new road on Monday. The Illinois Department of Transportation says a work-zone stage change with a temporary split-lane configuration takes effect beginning, weather permitting, Monday, November 2, as part of the rebuild of I-80 from Ridge Road in Minooka to U.S. 30 in Joliet and New Lenox — and the pattern is expected to stay in place for approximately one month while crews build the center lanes.

The changeover ran through the weekend nights: westbound I-80 was reduced to one lane from Chicago Street to Houbolt Road on Saturday and Sunday nights, the Larkin Avenue ramps closed Sunday night, and full traffic stops of no more than 15 minutes at a time ran in the overnight hours. By 6 a.m. Monday, IDOT says, all temporarily closed ramps and lanes reopen and the new traffic pattern is in place.

In the new pattern there are still two westbound lanes. They split after Center Street, separated by concrete barriers with the work zone in the center lane — the left lane designated for through traffic to Houbolt Road and the right lane providing access to the Larkin Avenue exit, according to the project summary read this run. IDOT asks drivers to be aware of the change, merge into their preferred lane early and anticipate some delays in the first few days. A similar split-lane configuration is planned for the eastbound center lanes later this fall, with details to be shared as dates are scheduled; project information is at I80will.org.