Joliet, IL – Drivers in the Joliet area should brace for overnight closures and significant traffic detours on Interstate 55 at the Interstate 80 interchange beginning tonight and continuing through Wednesday.
According to I-80 Will, the Illinois Department of Transportation will close portions of both I-55 and I-80 nightly from July 7 through July 9. The overnight work is expected to cause major delays and require drivers to follow clearly marked detour routes as crews complete critical road improvements.
Closures begin at 8 p.m. each night, when I-80 will be reduced to one lane in each direction between River Road and Houbolt Road. At 9 p.m., I-55 will also be reduced to a single lane in each direction between Illinois 59 and U.S. 6.
According to officials, at 11 p.m. the westbound I-80 ramp to southbound I-55 will close, followed by the closure of the eastbound I-80 ramp to northbound I-55 at midnight. Both directions of I-55 at I-80 will be fully closed from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., with all lanes and ramps expected to reopen by 6 a.m. each morning.
Traffic will be detoured using posted routes, with southbound drivers directed onto I-80 west toward Minooka before looping back to I-55 south, and northbound drivers rerouted onto local roads before rejoining the interstate. Motorists are urged to expect delays, allow extra travel time, and plan ahead.
These temporary closures are part of ongoing efforts to improve safety and efficiency at one of Illinois’ busiest highway interchanges.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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