Lake Street Reconstruction Begins in Elmhurst on Monday

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that advance work for the reconstruction of U.S. 20 (Lake Street) between Walnut Street and York Road is scheduled to begin Monday, April 4.

The start of the project will require reducing eastbound Lake to one lane through the work zone. Both directions of York Road will be reduced to one lane through the Lake Street intersection. 

Around May 1, weather permitting, eastbound Lake will be closed and traffic shifted to the westbound lanes, making Lake one lane in each direction between Walnut Street and York Road the duration of the summer. The frontage road will remain open during construction.

In late spring or early summer, eastbound Interstate 290 will shift one lane to the left between Walnut Street and York Road. The 55 mph speed limit will be maintained.

In October, the westbound I-290 exit ramp will be closed for about 25 days, with westbound bound traffic detoured to York Road. Access to the eastbound I-290 exit ramp will be maintained throughout the project.

Construction will be suspended over the winter and resume in the spring. The entire project will be complete late summer 2012.

Motorists should expect delays and allow extra time for trips. Please obey the speed limit, observe closure signs and remain alert for workers.

Martam Construction Inc. of Elgin is the primary contractor for the $6.1 million project.

The work includes several components to make the area less confusing to drivers and more environmentally friendly.

The project, when it is complete, will eliminate the existing two-ramp interchange between Lake and I-290 in favor of one ramp with a traffic signal linking both directions of Lake with eastbound I-290. The new ramp will be built west of Larch Avenue. The spot of the existing ramps will be replaced by landscaped berms with more than 600 trees and 700 shrubs.

New traffic signals and sidewalks will be built at Lake and York Road, street lighting along Lake will be added or replaced and a new drainage system will be installed from just east of Walnut Street to York Road.