Section of Route 59 Closing for Culvert Installation This Weekend

Submitted by city of Naperville 

Illinois Route 59 will be temporarily closed in both directions near the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad underpass to accommodate work that is occurring to install a box culvert in conjunction with the Route 59 Expansion Project.

Contractors from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) expect to close the area beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, June 6, pending weather and unforeseen circumstances. The section of road will be closed throughout the weekend, and the road is expected to be reopened by the morning of Monday, June 9. 

A detour will be posted directing all motorists to use Ogden Avenue via North Aurora Road and Aurora Avenue. Local traffic will be permitted on Route 59 between Glacier Park Avenue and Aurora Avenue. Patrons visiting the businesses located on the east side of Route 59 between the viaduct and North Aurora Road will need to utilize the access point on North Aurora Road. A map of the posted detour is available at www.naperville.il.us/route59expansion.aspx. 

The closure is occurring to accommodate the installation of a new box culvert that carries Waubansee Creek under Illinois Route 59 near the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad underpass. Installation of the box culvert has begun and was intended to be completed within the current traffic control configuration. However, unforeseen conditions were encountered that will require the full road closure to complete the installation in an expedited manner. 

As a vital transportation link to the entire region, the Illinois Route 59 corridor is being expanded so that safety and traffic flow can be improved for Naperville’s residents, visitors and commuters. The Route 59 Expansion Project includes Ferry Road to Aurora Avenue/New York Street as well as improvements to the major intersections within that three-mile corridor, including Diehl Road, North Aurora Road and Aurora Avenue/New York Street.

Based upon analysis of current roadway conditions and public input obtained in recent years, the roadway will be widened to three lanes in each direction, additional turn lanes will be added and existing turn lanes will be extended, access from smaller side streets and driveways will be restricted or eliminated to improve traffic flow and sidewalks and bike paths will be installed wherever practical.  

The project also includes the implementation of an innovative diverging diamond configuration on the bridge over Interstate 88 that will enhance safety and traffic flow. Construction began in August 2013 and is expected to be complete in 2015. For additional information, visit the project webpage at www.naperville.il.us/route59expansion.aspx.

While the Illinois Route 59 Expansion Project is a state-led initiative, the City of Naperville has been very involved in the project since its conception and is taking proactive approaches to keep residents, motorists and others informed about how the project will affect them. The City is working closely with IDOT and surrounding townships and cities affected by the project to ensure the public is informed and the project is successful. Schedule changes, impacts to the public, and other information will be posted on a regular basis to the

City’s project webpage, the Route 59 eNewsletter and Road Closure and Construction Alerts eNewsletter and in the local media whenever possible.