Interstate 39 alert

[earlvillestu]

There's an electronic sign message that the northbound I39 ramp at the U.S. 20 junction just south of Rockford will be closed the week of May 2. This will require northbound I39 traffic to take a detour.

I'm sure there will be a detour posted, but it's not likely to be pretty. 😞

[earlvillestu]

Update 5/27: Bridge reconstruction is finished, and northbound I39 ramp is now open again. As a bonus, as of this morning all the construction in the 20-mile work zone between MPs 96 and 116 (just south of I88 to Rockford) has been picked up for the Memorial Day weekend, and all lanes are open all the way, both directions.

[earlvillestu]

Update 5/16: ramp is still closed. One lane northbound between milepost 96 (just south of I88 interchange) and about 100 or so for resurfacing.

[jdocter7]

Thanks!

[earlvillestu]

Hemi Joel wrote:

jdocter7 wrote:
It looks like Hwy 251 runs parallel, just west of I-39. Would it make sense to hop off and on and take 251 for ten miles? Heading north day after tomorrow, 40 foot motorhome towing a car. Thanks!

That would be slower than taking the detour. The detour sends you east on 20 to 251, then make a U-turn onto 20 west, then onto 39 north.

x2

[Hemi_Joel]

jdocter7 wrote:
It looks like Hwy 251 runs parallel, just west of I-39. Would it make sense to hop off and on and take 251 for ten miles? Heading north day after tomorrow, 40 foot motorhome towing a car. Thanks!

That would be slower than taking the detour. The detour sends you east on 20 to 251, then make a U-turn onto 20 west, then onto 39 north.

[jdocter7]

It looks like Hwy 251 runs parallel, just west of I-39. Would it make sense to hop off and on and take 251 for ten miles? Heading north day after tomorrow, 40 foot motorhome towing a car. Thanks!

[earlvillestu]

Yep, that's it.

If you're not driving a big rig, here's an alternate detour. Get off I39 at Baxter Road (exit 115). Go east about 2 miles to Perryville Road. Go north as far as you can go (you'll hit a blocked detour) and turn right onto Mill Road. Stay on Mill Road to the first stoplight, which is U.S. 20. Turn left, and you're right at an entrance back on to I39 north. Mill Road goes through a residential neighborhood, and I'm not sure about weight limits, so use at your own risk.

[Hemi_Joel]

I got cought in it Saturday. seemed like about 10 miles of backtracking to get thru it.

[earlvillestu]

Update 5/11: As of today, the ramp is still closed. Traffic is being detoured west on U. S. 20 two exits to Illinois 251, where it gets off the divided highway and gets back on eastbound.

Another headache: starting next week, there will be resurfacing taking place between MPs 96 and 116 (south of Rochelle to south of Rockford), a continuation of the work done last summer. I expect it will last most of the summer. If it's like last year, there will be periodic lane closures and some pretty significant backups, both northbound and southbound. I'd especially avoid it northbound on Friday afternoon and southbound on Sunday afternoon (Illinois weekenders going to and from Wisconsin).

[earlvillestu]

All the sign said was "Week of 5/2." I travel this route weekly; I'll update when I know more.

[INBellbuoy]

Will this be closed for awhile? I'll be headed thru there Memorial Day Weekend.