159th Street (U.S. 6–IL 7) Reconstruction

The challenge for this project was to reduce congestion along a busy 7½-mile-long corridor. This project had been dormant for many years when IDOT asked HLR to complete the preliminary design 14 years after the project began. Timing was critical, as the project had recently been included in IDOT’s 2012-2017 Multi-Year Program.

This project involved the full reconstruction of 159th Street from just east of Gougar Road to west of Ravinia Avenue. The existing two-lane roadway was widened to two lanes in each direction with a 28-foot median. Our team kept the project on a fast track and Phase I Design Approval was received in September 2011; 18 months after the project started. This approval was granted prior to the changes in IDOT’s noise policy.

Scope of Work

• Eight Intersection Design Studies
• Environmental Class Action Determination (ECAD) document
• Combined design report
• Location drainage study
• Hydraulic reports for Marley and Spring Creek
• Public hearing
• Business owner meeting
• Tree survey
• Pickup topographic survey
• Complete Streets evaluation
• Forest Preserve District of Will County coordination