ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - A heads up for Illinois drivers.
In less than two weeks, a section of Interstate 255 in the Metro East will shut down for six months.
On Saturday, Feb. 1, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will begin to rehabilitate and resurface three and a half miles of I-255 from Illinois 157 to Illinois 15 in St. Clair County.
IDOT says by closing parts of I-255, the project, which will cost $65.4 million, will be completed in six months instead of the two years that would be necessary if construction were staged and save the state about $10 million in taxpayer dollars if the work was completed in multiple phases.
"Doing a complete shutdown, not only is it cheaper, you also get a high quality product out of it," IDOT District 8 Project Implementation Engineer Joel Cumby on 'Total Information A.M.' "We don't have all of these interim joints that we have to put in between the various stages."
Cumby also highlights that doing a full closure is also "much safer" for both the workers and drivers.
"You separate the motorists from the workers entirely," said Cumby. "It is much safer for the motorists as well because you will know the routes through the whole period. There won't changing conditions and it eliminates confusion that way.
In addition to rehabilitating and resurfacing the roadway, the project, funded by Rebuild Illinois, will also include bridge repairs, safety improvements, new lighting, signing and drainage improvements.
IDOT has released an alternate routes for drivers and trucks to take while a section of I-255 is shut down for the next six months.
Alternate Route for Drivers
Alternate Route for Trucks
Detour Route
Back in 2020, IDOT completed improvements to I-255 from Illinois 15 to Collinsville Road.
Work is expected to be completed on July 31st.