The Illinois Department of Transportation will be reconstructing the southbound side of Interstate 57 from Benton to the Franklin/Jefferson County line, starting July 13.
The state will keep one lane of traffic open going southbound, resulting in high volumes of traffic and congestion.

Message boards will alert drivers to traffic information along the road, and motorists are encouraged to follow the signs for alternate routes during times of peak delay. Currently traffic in the southbound direction is 17,000 vehicles per day, 36 percent of which are heavy-duty trucks.

The northbound lanes will not be affected by the project.

The department will be removing the existing bituminous surface, rubblizing the underlying original concrete pavement and resurfacing with 9.25 inches of hot mix asphalt over the 8.75 mile long project. The project involves special equipment capable of crushing the concrete slabs followed by repeated rolling resulting in a high quality free draining base.

The work will start in the driving lane from the Franklin/Jefferson County line to the Illinois154 interchange. Once the driving lane and outside shoulder are finished, traffic will be directed to the new surface and work will begin on the passing lane and inside shoulder. This section should be completed in two weeks, weather permitting.

The second section extends from the Illinois 154 interchange down to just north of the Illinois 14 (Benton) interchange. The work on this section will begin shortly after the completion of the first section. No work or lane restrictions will be allowed through the Labor Day Holiday weekend.