Major Route 20 work to begin next week

Route 20 in Elgin could be the site of some serious gridlock come Thursday.

And construction work -- along with lane closures -- won't end until November.

"It's going to be a tough summer," said Mike Claffey, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Transportation. "(But) it's going to be a major improvement once we complete it."

State officials will spend about nearly $9 million on two projects on Route 20.

First up is an $847,000 project to rebuild the top of the four-lane bridge over the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern railroad tracks.

Claffey said the bridge has deteriorated. As a result, truck weight limits are now at 40 tons

Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction while work crews knock out the pavement, replace the support beams and pour new concrete.

The bridge project should be done by Aug. 31, but an overhaul of the Route 20 and Shales Parkway intersection at the west end of the bridge will begin in June and run through November, Claffey said.

"It's to improve safety and traffic flow," he said.

The $8 million project, which has been on hold for eight years, will modernize the traffic signals, rebuild retaining walls and add turn lanes at one of Elgin's most dangerous intersections.

One improvement will be adding a right-turn lane for motorists headed west on Route 20 to go north on Shales.

Drivers headed west on the bridge over the railroad tracks often have to hit their brakes because traffic is backed up for vehicles turning right.

Other improvements include wider lanes, Claffey said.

During the project, traffic also will be reduced to one lane in each direction.

David Lawry, Elgin's general services director, said the city has to relocate a water main near the intersection but otherwise has no involvement in either project.