Road work to begin on Harlem Avenue and 95th Street

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced last week that an improvement project on Harlem Avenue (Illinois 43) over 95th Street (U.S. 12/20), from 92nd Place, in Bridgeview, to south of 99th Place, in Chicago Ridge, passing through Oak Lawn, will begin, weather permitting, Monday, Sept. 30.

The project is scheduled to be completed in several stages.

Starting at 5 a.m. Monday through the end of October, weather permitting, eastbound 95th Street from Interstate 294 (Tri State Tollway) to New England Avenue will be closed to accommodate the installation of new storm sewers. Motorists should follow the posted detour.

A temporary ramp is being built from westbound 95th Street to northbound Harlem Avenue to accommodate reconstruction of the existing ramp. Traffic is anticipated to be shifted over to the temporary ramp later this month. The current detour is expected to last until at least end of October.

Work will begin on Harlem Avenue later this fall. Details and impacts to traffic will be shared in advance, closer to the start date.

The $43.3 million project consists of reconstructing and resurfacing Harlem Avenue over 95th Street between 92nd and 99th Place, reconstructing the Harlem Avenue/95th Street interchange, installing modernized traffic signals, lighting, drainage improvements and new ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps.

The project also includes rehabilitating the Harlem Avenue bridges over the CSX Railroad and over 95th Street along with the eastbound 95th Street elevated ramp to southbound Harlem Avenue outer connector ramp over the CSX Railroad.

Additionally, 95th Street from I-294 to New England Avenue will be resurfaced and new storm sewers installed.

The overall project is anticipated to be completed in late 2025.

The public can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Alternative routes are encouraged.

55th Street project timeline extended

Due to unforeseen utility conflicts on 55th Street between Wolf Road and Laurel Avenue, additional time is needed to complete the project.

Work will resume over the next couple of weeks and weather permitting continue through late fall. The lanes that were closed on 55th Street between Plainfield and Wolf roads will reopen over the winter. Work will resume next spring and is anticipated to be completed in fall 2025. To complete the work, 55th Street will return to one lane in each direction between Plainfield and Wolf roads.

The improvement project started in March on 55th Street, from Plainfield Road, in Countryside, to Interstate 294 (Tri-State Tollway), in Western Springs, passing through La Grange and Lyons Township.

To accommodate the work, 55th Street will be reduced from two to one lane in each direction between Plainfield and Wolf roads. Access to residences and businesses within the work zone will be maintained throughout construction.

The $9.5 million project will resurface 1.6 miles of 55th Street, modernize traffic signals, construct new ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps and extend the existing multi-use path on the north side of 55th Street from Brainard Avenue to Wolf Road.