Eola Road Widening Starts April 20 — One of Many Road Projects on Aurora’s East Side
Roadway construction to widen Eola Road between Keating Road and Montgomery Road will begin Wednesday, April 20.
During construction, motorists should expect daily lane closures with flaggers which could cause major traffic delays, especially during peak commuting hours. The speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph in this area. Motorists should be cautious when traveling through the construction zone and should seek alternative routes if possible.
The long-anticipated project on Eola Road will widen the roadway between Keating Drive to Montgomery Road to five lanes — two in both directions plus a center turn lane. Sidewalk on the east side and bike path on the west side will be added. The project also includes extensive storm sewer work, the addition of a box culvert crossing and new retaining walls and fences.
The majority of the work is expected to be completed this year, and the entire project will be completed by fall 2017.
Aurora Construction Update Thursday
In an effort to keep residents informed during road construction projects, the city of Aurora, in conjunction with Eighth Ward Alderman Rick Mervine, will hold a construction update to discuss Far East Side road construction projects from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 21, at Village Baptist Church, 515 Frontenac Street.
The meeting will update residents in an informal setting on multi-year and other large-scale road construction projects currently underway on Aurora’s Far East Side.
Mervine and city staff will be on hand to discuss the follow road construction projects:
- Ogden Overpass Construction
- Eola Widening Proect
- Kautz Road and Montgomery Road Multi-Use Paths
- Farnsworth Overpass Reconstruction
- Farnsworth and Sheffer Road Water Main
- 2016 Resurfacing Projects
The city of Aurora and Alderman Mervine thank Village Baptist Church for partnering to continue to provide this space in order to inform all residents on these important projects.
SOURCE: city of Aurora news release
AURORA EAST SIDE 2016 PROJECTS
For more information, visit https://www.aurora-il.org/construction/
Ogden Avenue/Route 34 and Canadian National Railroad Grade Separation
Construction of a new overpass, sidewalk, multi-use path, traffic signals, and retaining and noise abatement walls to improve safety and relieve train-related congestion.
| Agency: | Illinois Department of Transportation |
| Cost: | $40 million, with the City of Aurora contributing $300,000 from the Local Motor Fuel Tax fund and an additional $300,000 from the Water and Sewer Fund for water main work. Roughly two-thirds of the grade separation will be paid by Canadian National Railway. |
| Traffic: | Access will be limited to one lane in each direction. Expect delays. |
Eola Road Widening
Eola Road widening work is expected to begin Wednesday, April 20. Motorists should expect lane closures and long delays, and seek alternate routes when possible.
Complete roadway reconstruction and widening of Eola Road, south of Montgomery Road to Keating Drive, plus improvements to each intersection. The two-lane road will be replaced with five lanes, including a center left-turn lane, plus an 8-foot bike path on the north side and a 5-foot sidewalk on the south. Construction is expected to begin in May. Motorists should expect delays and single-lane closures, and take extra precautions around crews and flaggers. Work is expected to be complete by fall 2017.
| Agency: | City of Aurora |
| Cost: | $10.3 million, with 80 percent of that total paid for by Federal Transportation Funds, and 20 percent paid by the City of Aurora from State Motor Fuel Tax revenues. |
| Traffic: | Lane closures with flaggers and a reduced 25 mph speed limit. Motorists should expect long delays, especially during commuting hours, and seek alternate routes whenever possible. |
Farnsworth Avenue Bridge
New ramp configurations, added traffic signals and a wider bridge with turn lanes and a multi-use path for bikes and pedestrians. This two-year project, run by the Illinois Tollway Authority, will require lane closures and changing traffic patterns. Motorists should expect long delays and take alternate routes when possible. Work is scheduled to begin summer 2016 and be complete sometime in 2017. For more information, go to http://www.illinoistollway.com/construction-and-planning/projects-by-roadway/reagan-memorial-tollway-i-88/farnsworth-avenue-interchange-project.
Farnsworth Avenue Sheffer Road Water Main Replacement
Crews will replace more than 4,000 feet of 12-inch water main along Farnsworth from Sheffer to Indian Trail and along Sheffer from Ohio Street to Farnsworth Avenue. Night work is expected for portions of the project to minimize the impacts to traffic.
| Agency: | City of Aurora |
| Cost: | $1 million |
| Traffic: | Delays and occasional lane closures along Sheffer Road. Intermittent lane closures between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sheffer Road is expected to stay open for the duration of the project. |
