ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ill. – An Illinois Department of Transportation project is forcing Interstate 255 in St. Clair County to close for six months.

Beginning Feb. 1, IDOT will be resurfacing 3.5 miles of the interstate between Illinois Route 157 and Illinois Route 15. Other repairs include safety improvements, new lighting, signage, drainage improvements, and bridge upgrades.

According to the department, this six-month closure prevents a two-year long project instead. Additionally, closing the major road helps construction crews by removing the risk of drivers and traffic in the area.


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Around $10 million was paid for by taxpayers out of the $65.4 million total.

The interstate will be anticipated to open again on July 31. In the meantime, drivers should find alternate routes and detours.

“Over the next six years, IDOT is planning to improve more than 3,200 miles of highway and nearly 9 million square feet of bridge deck as part of Rebuild Illinois, which is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation. Accomplishments through Year Five of Rebuild Illinois include approximately $16 billion of improvements statewide on 6,541 miles of highway, 686 bridges, and 986 additional safety improvements,” a release from IDOT said.

Below are detour routes provided by IDOT: