Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has announced the reopening of construction lanes where possible to ease travel disruptions during the Thanksgiving holiday. Non-emergency closures will be suspended from 3 p.m. on Wednesday, November 22, until 12:01 a.m. on Monday, November 27.

However, some lane closures will remain in place across various districts, potentially causing delays for motorists. Travelers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys and to remain vigilant in work zones. IDOT urges drivers to "pay close attention to changed conditions and signs," "obey the posted speed limits," and avoid using mobile devices while driving.

In District 1, notable closures include ramps and lanes on major expressways in Chicago and Cook County. Similar conditions are expected in DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will counties among others. Each district across Illinois has its own set of ongoing roadworks with specific closures or lane reductions that will persist through the holiday weekend.

As part of Governor Pritzker's Rebuild Illinois capital program, IDOT plans a significant investment of $41 billion over six years into the state's transportation infrastructure. This includes $27.03 billion dedicated to roads and bridges with an additional $4.6 billion allocated for the current fiscal year alone.

The program aims to improve over 3,000 miles of roads and nearly 10 million square feet of bridge deck within the state system while maintaining local government infrastructure as well. Year Four accomplishments under Rebuild Illinois reported approximately $12.1 billion spent on improvements covering thousands of miles of highway and hundreds of bridges statewide.

For more detailed information regarding specific IDOT projects or traffic updates during this period, travelers can access resources online including IDOT's social media channels or their traveler information map at www.GettingAroundIllinois.com.