Latest news with #IllinoisDepartmentofTransportation
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Road work coming to Illinois 251 starting Aug.4. Here's how it affects drivers
Work on Illinois 251 in Rockford and Loves Park is scheduled to begin Aug. 4, weather permitting. The Illinois Department of Transportation planned to resurface and repair a section of Illinois 251 from Whitman Street in Rockford to Snow Avenue in Loves Park, including a portion of Forest Hills Road to Landstrom Road, according to a community announcement. The project is expected to include patching, milling, resurfacing, ADA sidewalk improvements and retaining wall repairs. Staged construction is planned, with two lanes of traffic open in each direction throughout the project. Center lane work will take place at night. The $7.6 million project is expected to be completed by Nov. 15, according to the announcement. Drivers are urged to pay attention to changed conditions, obey posted speed limits, avoid mobile device use and watch for workers and equipment in the work zone. According to the announcement, over the next six years, the Illinois Department of Transportation plans to improve more than 3,200 miles of highway and nearly 9 million square feet of bridge deck as part of Rebuild Illinois, a $33.2 billion investment in transportation. Updates are available on X at @IDOTDistrict2 and This story was created by reporter Abreanna Blose, ablose@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Night work, lane shifts and sidewalk fixes coming to Illinois 251 Solve the daily Crossword
Chicago Tribune
08-07-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Kane County Sheriff's Office taking part in statewide crackdown on speeding
Drivers in Kane County can expect to see increased police patrols this month as part of a statewide crackdown on speeding. The Kane County Sheriff's Office is partnering with the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and more than 200 local law enforcement agencies on the campaign, which started Tuesday, according to a news release from the sheriff's office. Residents can expect to see increased patrols throughout Kane County and Illinois during the campaign, the release said. Officers will be intensifying speed limit enforcement and stopping and ticketing offenders, particularly in areas with high numbers of speed-related crashes. The initiative is set to extend through July 31. The Kendall County Sheriff's Office is also participating in the anti-speeding initiative, according to a press release from the office on Monday. The initiative is part of the 'Speeding Catches Up With You' campaign, which is funded through federal highway safety funds administered by IDOT, according to the news release. The speed enforcement effort also supports IDOT's 'It's Not a Game' media campaign.
Newsweek
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
New Bill Would Change Driver's License Renewal Requirement for Some Seniors
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has been sent a bill that would change driver's license renewal requirements for senior citizens in the state. Newsweek reached out to Pritzker's office for comment via email. Why It Matters The proposed law would increase the age at which senior drivers must take a behind-the-wheel driving test to retain their license, from 79 to 87. There are more than 1.2 million drivers aged 65 or older in Illinois who the bill would impact if it becomes law, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. What to Know The bill passed both houses of Illinois' legislature in May, and it was sent to Pritzker's desk for a signature on June 20. The governor has not indicated whether he plans to support the bill. It passed with bipartisan support. The office of Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias told Newsweek in a statement that the bill would align Illinois' driving standards with those of the rest of the nation. Under the bill, drivers 87 and older would be required to take annual driving tests. Immediate family members would also be able to report concerns about their driving ability, which could potentially result in the loss of driving privileges. Current law allows medical personnel, attorneys and police to file these reports. The name of the individual submitting the report would be kept confidential, according to the bill's text. Stock image of an older man driving a car. Stock image of an older man driving a car. dusanpetkovic/iStock via Getty Images State Representative Jay Hoffman, a Democrat who introduced the bill, told Newsweek that testing seniors at 79 doesn't help improve road safety. "The numbers are clear: testing at that age doesn't create any practical contribution to traffic safety, just unnecessary stress for older Illinoisans," he said. "I was happy to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to bring Illinois in-line with neighboring states by making a change we all agreed should be a priority." Giannoulias has supported the bill, which passed the state Senate unanimously. "My top priority as Secretary of State is keeping Illinois roads safe. Allowing immediate relatives to notify my office of concerns about their loved one's driving ability helps make driving safer for everyone," he said in a statement provided to Newsweek. He noted that Illinois statistics show that senior drivers are "the safest of any age category." "This legislation will remove unnecessary burdens placed on them and align our testing standards with the rest of the nation," he said. What People Are Saying State Senator Ram Villivalam, a Democrat, told Capitol News Illinois: "I think about my mom. I don't think my mom would admit she's a senior, but she is someone that is very much a safe driver. I can't think of someone that I know that's a safer legislation is removing this archaic requirement and doing so in a very balanced way." AARP urged lawmakers to support the bill in a press release earlier this year: "AARP members have asked our team for years why Illinois is the ONLY state in the nation that still uses age as a factor to require people to retake their driving test. Our members believe the policy to be discriminatory. The right to drive should be based on ability and not age." What Happens Next If the bill is signed into law, it would take effect on July 1, 2026.
Chicago Tribune
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago closes streets early to fix buckling pavement ahead of NASCAR race
The NASCAR Chicago Street Race is still more than a week away, but Mother Nature is already burning up the track. The heat dome that descended on Chicago last weekend with unrelenting 100-degree temperatures caused buckling pavement on stretches of the pop-up race course, forcing the city to close some streets ahead of schedule to repair the damage. On Wednesday evening, the city shut down Balbo Drive from Columbus Drive to Michigan Avenue, which was originally scheduled to close Friday. It also closed Columbus from Jackson Drive to Roosevelt Road – five days ahead of schedule – to allow work crews to repair another pavement buckle. The rest of the course is 'holding up fine' and the street closings ahead of the July Fourth weekend race event will remain on schedule, a NASCAR spokesperson said Thursday. Chicago is not alone in navigating this summer's new road hazard. The oppressive heat and humidity, which have brought triple-digit temperatures across the Midwest and East Coast in recent weeks, have caused the pavement to buckle on roads in a number of states. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation, for example, reported 50 pavement buckles on highways across the state last weekend. Likewise, the Illinois Department of Transportation posted an online warning Monday to 'be on the lookout for pavement failures' on roads through the state because of the prolonged high temperatures. Meanwhile, a video of a car going airborne in an Evel Knievel-jump over a heat-induced pavement buckle in Missouri went viral this week. That is certainly something NASCAR wants to avoid when its 200-mph race cars hit Chicago streets next week. Chicago is set to host the third annual street race July 5-6 on a 12-turn, 2.2-mile course through Grant Park, down DuSable Lake Shore Drive and up Michigan Avenue. This year, NASCAR has streamlined the buildout and reduced major street closings to 18 days, starting with the shutdown last week of Balbo from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. All streets are scheduled to be reopened by July 14. The July Fourth weekend event includes an Xfinity Series race on Saturday and a Cup Series race on Sunday, both of which will put Chicago on the national TV stage. This year, the Xfinity Series Loop 110, which features mostly younger up-and-coming NASCAR drivers, will be broadcast Saturday, July 5 on the CW Network and local affiliate WGN-TV. The Grant Park 165 main event will air Sunday, July 6 on cable channel TNT. In 2023, the inaugural Fourth of July weekend event navigated Canadian wildfire haze and record rainfall that curtailed races, canceled concerts and left fans soaked. While clear skies prevailed for last year's Xfinity Series race, the Cup Series race was once again shortened when rain delays forced officials to call the race after 58 laps as darkness fell on the unlit street course. What role the weather plays in this year's race, besides the heat-buckling pavement, remains to be seen. July Fourth weekend forecasts call for a high temperature of 80 degrees and, of course, scattered thunderstorms on Saturday. rchannick@
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Illinois Department of Transportation warns of road failures amid heat wave. What to know
With high humidity and heat indexes above 100 still in the forecast for the next few days, the Illinois Department of Transportation is asking the public to keep an eye out for pavement failures on roads throughout the state. Here's what we know. The department said in a June 23 press release that high temperatures can cause roads to expand and buckle or blow out, leading to uneven driving services. Buckling is also more likely during times of precipitation and high humidity. Buckling happens when the road runs out of room to expand following extreme heat or other conditions. The department published an informational video on YouTube about pavement buckling, which can be viewed below. Pavement failures can be reported to the Illinois Department of Transportation by calling 800-452-4368 or by reaching out to law enforcement via 911. The department recommends that those traveling during extreme heat bring drinking water. "Becoming stranded could be dangerous without proper hydration, as dehydration can occur quickly in these conditions," the department warned in its press release. Avoid driving over pavement buckles and pull over to a safe location if you can to report it. Be aware of slowing traffic and prepare to slow down and move over for IDOT workers and emergency personnel. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: What is pavement buckling? How to drive safely during extreme heat
