Northbound Route 45 in Libertyville to close while workers replace collapsed embankment

Northbound Route 45 in the Libertyville area will be closed to traffic beginning Thursday to allow for the removal and replacement of a Metra embankment retaining wall that bulged and then collapsed on Labor Day.

The closure will last about a month, transportation officials say.

Route 45 closed in both directions between Peterson Road and Route 137 on the afternoon of Sept. 3, after the a 63-foot-wide and 20-foot-high retaining wall's collapse.

Libertyville received 4.25 inches of rain in the two days before the collapse.

"While the heavy rain was a major factor, we do not know the exact cause of the collapse," said Meg Thomas-Reile, public relations manager for Metra.

"When we're building the replacement wall we will get a better view of the buried base of the wall that collapsed; that may help us understand what happened and may convince us to do work on the other wall."

A bridge nearby carries Metra's Milwaukee North trains. Service was stopped for a time but resumed after inspections revealed there were no safety issues.

Vehicle traffic was rerouted, creating major traffic problems as that stretch of Route 45 carries 28,700 vehicles per day, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. The road reopened about a day later.

IDOT on Wednesday said traffic north of Peterson on Route 45 will not be allowed until the project's estimated completion date of no later than Nov. 18.

Drivers will be detoured west on Peterson Road, north on Route 83 and east on Route 120 in Grayslake to reconnect with Lake Street. Southbound Lake Street will remain open during construction.

Drivers can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through the area.