Phase two of the Veterans Parkway bridge reconstruction project is expected to start next week and last until July or August. (WJBC file photo)
By Joe Ragusa
BLOOMINGTON – If you travel on Interstate 74 by the Veterans Parkway bridge regularly, you may have to alter your commute starting next week.
That's the tenative start time for phase two of the Veterans Parkway bridge reconstruction project, weather permitting. Marked detours will be in place at that point, directing drivers away from some ramps connecting I-74 and Veterans Parkway that will be closed. The ramps that will be impacted are the following:
• Southbound Veterans to eastbound I-74
• Westbound I-74 to northbound Veterans
• Westbound I-74 to southbound I-55
• Eastbound I-74 to northbound Veterans
Drivers heading west on I-74 to southbound Veterans will be detoured to Market Street. Those heading south on Veterans wishing to enter eastbound I-74 will be detoured to the Shirley Road exit. East- and westbound traffic on I-74 wishing to go northbound on Veterans will be detoured to Main Street.
Illinois Department of Transportation resident engineer J.R. Parker says the second phase of the $11.5 million project will focus on removal and replacement of the existing bridges over I-74.
"The goal is to have the project completed by, (IDOT is) hoping by the end of July, I'm thinking maybe closer to the end of August," Parker said.
There will also be lane reductions in place on Interstate 74 and I-74 will even be shut down at times between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Parker said traffic will only be shut down on a total of eight nights, "maybe nine."
The closures will allow for bridge beam replacement and new signs.
Illinois State Police troopers will be patrolling the area periodically. Parker said drivers need to be patient and cautious during the construction and pay attention to any flaggers directing traffic.
O'Neil Brothers Construction of Urbana is the project's contractor.
Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].
