Anticipated roadwork begins in O’Fallon to improve surfaces, relieve congestion

The first step in traffic relief for residents of Pierce Boulevard and nearby neighbors is on its way. In addition, other work in O’Fallon is underway that will be improving roads and affecting commutes this summer.

Signs prohibiting large trucks from cutting through from Green Mount Road on Pierce Boulevard are going to be posted shortly, said Mayor Herb Roach at Monday’s O’Fallon City Council meeting.

Roach said the engineers and city staff decided to prohibit trucks weighing 8 tons or more, unless they must be in the area for deliveries and are not cutting through.

“That’s going to happen as soon as we get the signs made,” he said.

Other traffic calming efforts are still being determined, after residents crowded into city hall on April 27 and May 18 to offer suggestions. Those who live on Pierce Boulevard, White Pine Avenue and Walnut Street, among others, commented about excessive speeding and traffic volumes.

The city’s traffic consultants, CBB Transportation Engineers + Planning, have been analyzing the options to address cut-through traffic, and more decisions will be forthcoming.

Pierce is a connector road near the Interstate 64 interchange and not far from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.

O’Fallon City Streets

For patching operations on the existing pavement, the O’Fallon Public Works Department closed State Street at the acceleration lane onto U.S. Highway 50 on May 30.

Public Works Director Jeff Taylor said the work is expected to be completed by Friday, June 9, weather permitting.

“Drivers are urged to use caution and seek an alternate route, if at all possible,” he said.

Hawthorne Place at the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 also closed on May 30 so that patching could be done. Drivers are urged to use Timber Creek Lane to Edgewood Drive as a detour route, he said. The work is expected to be finished by June 9, weather permitting. KRB Excavating is performing the work.

Taylor said the city began this year’s patching and resurfacing projects in mid-April, and plans are to include the Manors at Timber Creek, Manors at Fairwood Hills and Crown Pointe subdivisions.

Once the patching has been completed, the roadway edges will be milled, and new asphalt surfacing installed. The prime contractor on the project performing the milling and asphalt work is Rooters Asphalt and the sub-contractor completing the concrete work is KRB Excavating. The expected completion date is Aug. 11.

If you see other work going on near downtown, that is part of the West Presidential Streets improvements, phases 2 and 3, which includes curb and gutter and new asphalt pavement along areas of North Cedar, North Oak, North Cherry, West Jefferson, West Adams, and West Washington streets The project is expected to be completed by Nov. 22, weather permitting.

Also, a contractor is currently installing the new sanitary sewer line in Oak Street between State and Adams streets. This section of Oak Street is currently closed, and the installation should be completed soon.

Taylor said the contractor is also transferring over service lines from the old main to the new water main installed on Cherry Street from Jefferson to Madison and Cedar Street from Adams to Madison. This work is anticipated to take 1-2 weeks, weather permitting.

The 4th Street reconstruction project is scheduled for next year.

Here is a link to the department’s construction updates web page. https://www.ofallon.org/public-works-department/pages/construction-updates

For more information on local projects, please contact the O’Fallon Public Works Department at 618-624-4500 Ext. 3.

Illinois Department of Transportation

Patchwork on Interstate 64 between Illinois 159 and Green Mount Road was expected to start on June 5.

Taylor said it will be nightwork. “They are hoping to complete the project in a couple of weeks, weather permitting,” he said.

Work is expected to start in August on 1.5 miles of resurfacing and ADA improvements on U.S. Highway 50 from 0.1 miles west of Schantz Road to Anne Avenue in O-Fallon.

As part of the Rebuild Illinois Highway Improvement Program, the right lane of northbound Interstate 55/70 over Beltline Road in Collinsville will be closed from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 8 for bridge deck repairs.