// a href = ./ //

   SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois transportation officials say they're gearing up for busy roadways this Memorial Day weekend and have a plan to reduce congestion.

   The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Thursday that non-emergency roadwork will be suspended to improve traffic flow at the unofficial start of summer.

   Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider says the move helps ensure safety with the increase of motorists expected on the roads.

   The suspension starts 3 p.m. on Friday through midnight Monday.

   Transportation officials are urging motorists to obey posted speed limits and that posted limits are still in effect for construction zones even if there's no construction in the works.

MoDOT starts work Tuesday that will close a lane on 370 and 70 for up to a month.

Crews will close left lane of westbound Route 370 between the Salt River Road exit and westbound I-70 on May 14. Then on Wednesday crews will close the left lane of eastbound Route 370 from eastbound I-70 to just east of the north outer road flyover.  

The lane closures are expected to last for about a month as part of the Mid Rivers Mall Drive project.

MoDOT starts work Tuesday that will close a lane on 370 and 70 for up to a month.

Crews will close left lane of westbound Route 370 between the Salt River Road exit and westbound I-70 on May 14. Then on Wednesday crews will close the left lane of eastbound Route 370 from eastbound I-70 to just east of the north outer road flyover.  

The lane closures are expected to last for about a month as part of the Mid Rivers Mall Drive project.

Road closures are underway on the Chain of Rocks Bridge.

The daily closures are set to run from 9 AM to 7 PM every weekday for the next two weeks. Today and tomorrow, the westbound right lane will be closed. Then through the end of the week, the westbound left lane will be closed.

The closures will move to the eastbound lanes next week. All work and closures are weather permitting, but IDOT hopes to have the work completed by May 17.

Road closures are underway on the Chain of Rocks Bridge.

The daily closures are set to run from 9 AM to 7 PM every weekday for the next two weeks. Today and tomorrow, the westbound right lane will be closed. Then through the end of the week, the westbound left lane will be closed.

The closures will move to the eastbound lanes next week. All work and closures are weather permitting, but IDOT hopes to have the work completed by May 17.

Drivers headed through downtown on 64 should be aware of a planned closure.

MoDOT plans to shut down the highway in both directions at Jefferson Avenue so crews can tear down the overpass. The closures will start tonight between 7 and 8 PM, but the highway should reopen by Monday morning rush.

 

CHICAGO (AP) - State officials have announced nearly $500 million in construction projects slated to begin soon.

The Illinois Department of Transportation released a list Monday of nearly 200 road and bridge projects. They include an interchange project on Chicago's Far South Side off Interstate 94. The state is investing $43 million in the project, which will repair, reconstruct and replace seven bridges. It will be completed in 2014.

Gov. Pat Quinn, Congressman Bobby Rush and state Sen. Donne Trotter were among the public officials who announced the projects Monday on the city's South Side.

The money comes from a capital construction program, Illinois Jobs Now!, and a supplemental appropriation lawmakers approved earlier this year.

The other projects include pedestrian structures, lots road resurfacing, bridge repair and road widening.

MoDOT is telling drivers, some temporary pain will be worth the permanent traffic relief.

The plan is to add another lane to southbound Interstate 270 between Manchester Road and Interstate 44.

Starting March 18 and continuing through April, crews will begin closing all lanes twice a day for 15 minutes at a time, while they blast to make room for the new lane.

This is similar to work that was done to add a lane on northbound 270 last summer.

District Engineer Ed Hassinger tells KTRS News, that addition has subtracted time from drivers' morning commutes, "The traffic volumes have increased and the speeds on northbound 270 have gone up anywhere from 10-15 miles an hour during the worst time, during rush hour."

The new lane on southboun 270 should be open by December.

Several road and highway projects are set to begin this week along three heavily traveled areas.

MoDOT will close lanes on the Poplar Street Bridge this  morning starting at nine until 2:30 in the afternoon. One lane in each direction will be closed weekdays for the next three weeks for crews to inspect the bridge.

In St. Charles County, traffic along Interstate 64 will be slowed or stopped for periods of time this week so crews can blast rock near the Boone Bridge.  Officials will help stop traffic at the designated times starting Tuesday. Blasting times will vary each day. Traffic is expected to be stopped for a maximum of ten minutes.

Close by, Olive street road will be closing between Centaur and Chesterfield Airport Road.  St. Louis County tells KTRS News, Centaur will be closed for two weeks as a contractor installs a 90 foot-long storm drainage system near construction of one of two new outlet malls.  

Drivers are asked to use the southern routes of Eatherton, Wildhorse Creek Road, Long Road and Chesterfield Airport Road.

Look for electronic message boards which will list any changes.

Several road and highway projects are set to begin this week along three heavily traveled areas.

MoDOT will close lanes on the Poplar Street Bridge this  morning starting at nine until 2:30 in the afternoon. One lane in each direction will be closed weekdays for the next three weeks for crews to inspect the bridge.

In St. Charles County, traffic along Interstate 64 will be slowed or stopped for periods of time this week so crews can blast rock near the Boone Bridge.  Officials will help stop traffic at the designated times starting Tuesday. Blasting times will vary each day. Traffic is expected to be stopped for a maximum of ten minutes.

Close by, Olive street road will be closing between Centaur and Chesterfield Airport Road.  St. Louis County tells KTRS News, Centaur will be closed for two weeks as a contractor installs a 90 foot-long storm drainage system near construction of one of two new outlet malls.  

Drivers are asked to use the southern routes of Eatherton, Wildhorse Creek Road, Long Road and Chesterfield Airport Road.

Look for electronic message boards which will list any changes.