159th Street to inbound Ford ramp to close Nov. 20

CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that as part of ongoing efforts to rehabilitate the 159^th Street (U.S. 6) bridge over the Bishop Ford Freeway (Interstate 94), in South Holland, a ramp closure is scheduled to begin, weather permitting, Friday, Nov. 20.

Starting Friday, Nov. 20, through late 2027, the westbound 159^th Street ramp to the inbound Bishop Ford will close for renovation. The eastbound 159^th Street ramp to the inbound Ford closed in October. The detour for both ramps uses Torrence Avenue and Sibley Boulevard (Illinois 83) to access the inbound interstate.

The public should continue to expect various lane shifts on both sides of 159th Street approaching the bridge, along with various overnight lane closures on the Bishop Ford at 159^th Street throughout construction. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.

Work on the 159^th Street bridge is anticipated to be completed in late 2027. ​

The overall $93 million project consists of patching and resurfacing 9.5 miles of the Bishop Ford from west of Martin Luther King Drive to U.S. 6 (159th Street), replacing overhead sign structures and installing energy-efficient LED lights. The project is rehabilitating the bridges carrying the Bishop Ford over the Indiana Harbor Belt railroad, Dolton Avenue, Greenwood Avenue and the two bridges over the Little Calumet River. The Michigan City Road, 154th Street and U.S. 6 overpasses also will be rehabilitated. ​

Construction on the outbound lanes is anticipated to continue through December, when the Bishop Ford returns to three lanes in both directions. Work will resume next spring on the inbound side, with the project wrapping up in late 2027.

For more information, visit https://idot.click/Bishop-Ford, which features project information, photos and the ability to submit questions and comments to the project team. Find traffic and road conditions at www.gettingaroundillinois.com. You also can follow IDOT on Facebook and X.

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