IDOT: I-24 bridge will not open both lanes for Thanksgiving

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Monday that the first phase of the Interstate 24 Ohio River Bridge construction project will not be finished until next month.

IDOT Engineer Ben Wills said the I-24 bridge will not be opening  both lanes in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. This could cause major backups this week, with a record number of travelers anticipated nationally.

The first phase of the 3-year rehab and painting project was supposed to be completed in mid-October, but delays pushed the project back several weeks to the Thanksgiving target.

According to Willis, more structural steel work needs to be done, and fabrication delays also played a part.

The new goal is that both lanes will reopen to traffic in mid-December, then phase two restrictions would resume in the spring.