Construction on I-74/I-57 interchange begins Aug. 3
Traffic on I-74 west of Mahomet has seen construction for much of the summer. Beginning Aug. 3, traffic on I-74 east of Mahomet will also be under construction.
A $32.6 million project to replace the I-74 bridges over the Canadian National Railroad yard and Market Street will kick off a series of projects that is expected to wrap up in late 2022.
Starting Monday, weather permitting, overnight work will begin with the installation of temporary lighting and pavement to accommodate two lanes of traffic in each direction while the bridges are replaced in 2021 and 2022.
In mid-August, weather permitting the Neil Street ramp to eastbound I-74 will close, with traffic detoured to the Prospect Avenue ramp to access the interstate. All lanes and ramps will reopen in November.
Next spring, the project resumes with the replacement of the I-74 eastbound bridges, with traffic switched to westbound I-74. In 2022, the work zone flips, with traffic switched to the new eastbound bridges while the westbound bridges are replaced. The Neil Street ramp to eastbound I-74 will be closed both construction seasons.
Construction on I-74 along with replacing Mattis Avenue bridges over I-74 and I-57 in Champaign is part of the Restore Illinois plan that has marked $33.2 billion for the state’s aging transportation system over six years. The Mattis Ave. bridge replacement project will cost a combined $20.8 million.
Beginning Aug. 3, Mattis Avenue will be permanently reduced to one lane in each direction. The restrictions will remain in place until the new bridges are finished in late summer 2021.
Earlier this month, IDOT also started replacing the U.S. 150 bridge over I-57 to accommodate a new I-57/74 interchange. U.S. 150 will remain one lane controlled by a traffic signals until the project wraps up next summer. The cost of the US-150 structure is $8,367,378.
Once the bridges are replaced and lengthened, the I-57/74 interchange project can start in late summer 2021.
The I-57/I-74 interchange was built in 1965 and handles handles almost 40,000 vehicles a day. The planned improvements will consist of 11 new bridge structures, including 2 flyover structures in the middle of the interchange. The cost of the interchange project is estimated to be about $120 million and is currently set to be let in June of 2021.
