Palatine Road section in Wheeling closed starting Friday

Palatine Road between Wolf and Wheeling roads will be closed Friday while construction crews start work on a total bridge replacement, according to Illinois Department of Transportation officials.

The $1.7-million project will replace two Frontage Road bridges over Palatine Road, said Sal Dajani, a resident engineer with IDOT.

"Those bridges were built in 1963," he said. "About two years ago, there was some concrete overlay work done, but this is a total bridge replacement."

The bridge decks will be removed and replaced and new concrete beams will also be installed, Dajani said.

The bridges are about 65 feet long about 45 feet wide, he said.

The Palatine Road expressway from Wolf to Wheeling roads will be closed from 9 p.m. on Friday until 3 a.m. on Monday while the old bridges are demolished.

A message board will direct drivers to a detour that goes from Wheeling Road to Hintz Road and then to Wolf Road, Dajani said.

If possible, drivers should avoid the area this weekend, Dajani said.

The construction project will continue until mid-November. During that time, parts of Palatine Road will probably be closed two or three more times, Dajani said.

State funds will cover the cost of the project.