I-70 Upgrade Between Effingham and Altamont Complete

The Illinois Department of Transportation Wednesday announced the completion of the eight-mile reconstruction project on I-70 from just west of Effingham to Altamont.

The project started in 2018. The section of I-70 carries more than 23,000 vehicles a day. Truck traffic accounts for 45% of those vehicles.

The westbound lanes were closed in 2019 and traffic was maintained utilizing crossovers, allowing for one lane of traffic in each direction. The work zone saw several severe crashes occur, with slow-moving or inoperative vehicles and distracted driving the primary factors.

With traffic at a standstill from the crashes, secondary crashes occasionally occurred, with some of those being more severe. Additional advance message boards and work zone speed signs were installed to warn approaching traffic and remind motorists to maintain a safe speed through the work zone. These additions helped, but crashes were still occurring.

The newly constructed westbound lanes opened in fall 2019, and work in the eastbound lanes began in 2020 with two-way traffic in the westbound lanes. Prior to this, several safety measures were implemented to help reduce the number of crashes.

Four emergency pull-off points were constructed in each direction for motorists to use in case of emergencies. Signs reminding motorists to maintain the 55 mph work-zone speed limit were installed, as were additional signs informing motorists the distance to the end of the work zone.

As work progressed, it was evident that the additional pull-off points and safety improvements helped reduce crashes. Additionally, with fewer crashes in the work zone and traffic continuing to maintain safe speeds, severe crashes were greatly reduced. With the new safety measures and the continued communication with emergency responders, IDOT was able to provide a safer environment for motorists as well as workers in the construction zone.