CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, Ill. – The recent shutdown of Interstate 255 from Illinois Route 157 to Route 15 has some Metro East residents adjusting their schedules.

“I actually have to leave home 20 to 30 minutes early just to get my son to get to school on time,” Daresha Franklin, Cahokia Heights resident, said.

IDOT views the shutdown as a better alternative to closing lanes. The shutdown is expected to lead to the work being completed in approximately six months, as opposed to two years if the interstate remains open. 

“When it’s done, you won’t still be sitting in traffic,” Joseph Monroe, IDOT District 8 operations engineer, said. “If we were staging this, you wouldn’t even be halfway through the project.”

Shutting the interstate down for work is also safer for drivers and work crews, according to Monroe. He said the ability to perform the work during a shutdown also allows for improvements that will last longer.

“We think the project will be a better-finished project,” he said.

Drivers can find detour information through IDOT, but Monroe adds there are other options for some commuters and encourages them to find the path that works best for them.

One early issue involved emergency repairs to an area unrelated to the I-255 work. On Monday, emergency repairs were needed on I-55/70, adding to delays for commuters.

On Wednesday, traffic conditions appeared to improve. Monroe said IDOT workers have been traveling detour routes while technicians check traffic signals to see if any adjustments are needed.

“There’s certainly pain, and we’re doing our best to minimize it,” he said.

It’s possible the work will be completed sooner than the estimated six-month timeline because the bidding process included an incentive if the project is completed early.