Will the bridge that carries Clavey Road be able to carry traffic during construction?
Yes. The Clavey Road bridge is inspected on a regular basis as mandated by State of Illinois. The inspection reports ensure the bridge is in a safe condition to carry vehicular and pedestrian traffic. During the construction the bridge will continue to be inspected to accommodate both vehicular and pedestrian traffic safely, especially for the one-lane temporary configuration. As noted in the FAQ, a temporary traffic signal will control traffic across the one-lane Clavey Rd bridge during construction. The signal will be actuated which means it will detect when a vehicle needs to cross the bridge and will provide the green light to safely cross the bridge. The opposing traffic will be held to a red light to ensure conflicting movements do not occur simultaneously. The bridge is designed to hold traffic during back up on the bridge. In addition, the temporary signal light on the one-lane bridge will be equipped with an Emergency Vehicle Preemption (EVP) system to ensure emergency responders are given priority.
Are there detour routes planned during construction?
With the proposed plan to maintain two-way traffic during construction on Clavey Road from US Route 41 to Green Bay Road for the duration of construction, detour routes are not anticipated. A detour is possible due to unforeseen site conditions or utility conflicts, but the duration of the detour route will be short. Please note that Clavey Road Bridge will be one-lane with a temporary traffic signal to regulate the flow of traffic. The bridge will be replaced at the completion of the project.
Why is the City considering a two-lane roadway during construction instead of a one-lane roadway with detours?
Clavey Road is a major east-west route in the City, used by many motorists and pedestrians. While the one-way traffic option could reduce construction time and project costs, it eliminates the westbound traffic on a significant portion of Clavey Road for a long duration and would cause a major inconvenience to the motoring public.
At the public meeting on July 30, 2019, residents and entities residing in the area and using Clavey Road on a daily basis expressed concerns with the one-way traffic and the long detour routes. Also, a one-direction traffic flow pattern is not as safe as a two-way traffic flow. Public safety responders have expressed concerns on traffic backups with one-way traffic. The one-way traffic plan would also impact visitors heading to Ravinia Festival grounds causing major backups on the detoured routes.
Maintaining a two-way traffic flow is estimated to cost an additional $1,600,000. This figure is a preliminary estimate based on a limited study conducted by the City’s design consultant. The cost will be reviewed after IDOT provides the City with approval to initiate final engineering. The additional cost will be grant funded, and, as such, the City’s share will be limited to 20% of costs or $320,000 if approved by IDOT.
Will the stoplight at the bridge be on a straight timer?
The traffic signal at the bridge will be fully actuated, which means it will detect when vehicles are present and when each movement needs a green light or a red light.
Will that timer be able to be adjusted during times of high traffic?
As noted in the answer to question 7 above, the signal will detect when vehicles are present and when each movement needs a green light or a red light. Adjustments can be made to provide more green time to a specific movement during higher traffic volumes such as when Ravinia holds a major event.
On Ravinia Nights, would having a traffic officer take manual control of the light be an option?
The traffic signal controller may have the option to be taken over by a police officer, if necessary. But this needs to be reviewed in more detail to ensure proper sight lines are able to the human that has control of the signal. Keep in mind that the signal is at a bridge, with the signal heads placed at a relatively large distance from each other. This is different from the traditional signal found at intersections.
Can pedestrians / bicyclists use Clavey Rd safely during construction (temporary sidewalk)?
The current plan calls for maintaining pedestrian and bicyclists traffic during construction. During bridge replacement work, it is possible to shut down pedestrian and bicyclist traffic for short duration for safety reasons. Please note that Clavey Road Bridge will be one-lane with a temporary traffic signal to regulate the flow of traffic. The bridge will be replaced at the completion of the project.
Will large truck (18-wheeler) traffic be allowed on Clavey Rd during the project?
All oversized load trucks require permits from IDOT and City. Depending on the weight and width of the truck, a permit will be given by IDOT and City. Most likely, heavy load trucks are to use detour routes provided by IDOT and City.
