A major construction project will start in just a couple weeks on John Deere Road.
Larry Coyne, Operations Manager of McCarthy Improvement Company's Asphalt Division says the $16.2 million project, announced by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn on Thursday, January 16th, starts February 1st, 2014 with paperwork, setting up offices, and getting some equipment.
"I would say the second week of February they'll (motorists) will see us out there," says Coyne.
"There" refers to John Deere Road between Interstate 74 and 38th Street. McCarthy Improvement won the bid for the state project and has split up the two-year plan into several stages.
"The first item that we're going to do is get started on the bridge," says Coyne.
Workers are going to build a bridge over John Deere Road, just east of I-74. The bridge will reach from the 41st Avenue Drive Connector on the south side of John Deere Road to 38th Avenue/Coaltown Road on the north side. Both the 41st Avenue Drive Connector and 38th Avenue/Coaltown Road will be widened as well.
Instead of turning left at the light at 38th Street and John Deere Road, Coyne says the Illinois Department of Transportation's design will take drivers down 41st Avenue Drive, over the road, and onto 38th Avenue/Coaltown Road. Then, drivers will make an immediate right to get onto John Deere Road West.
To get onto John Deere Road East, drivers will turn right like they do now. However, there will no longer be a stoplight at that intersection of 38th Street and John Deere Road, opening the flow of traffic. Instead, a stoplight will be installed at the three-way stop just south of the intersection.
"What's an expressway when you have lights where you have to stop?" says Coyne. "We're eliminating a light. IDOT put some thought into it. This is all positive. I really see good things coming from this."
"If you can bear with us, in 2 years you're just going to be a happy camper."
The project is part of the state's capital construction program called Illinois Jobs Now! Coyne says during the duration of the project, there will around 100 people working at any given time.