Wood Street Roadway Replacement Project
The purpose of the project is to address existing and year 2040 transportation needs along Wood Street/Ashland Avenue from south of US Route 6 (159th Street) to 138th Street. The needs of the project include enhancing safety for all users, improving facility condition and design, encouraging multi-modal transportation, and supporting economic development in the community.
The project involves widening the existing four lane cross section to a five-lane cross section from the south limit to approximately 142nd Street. From 142nd street to just north of the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad (IHBRR) bridges a three-lane cross section will be constructed. A shared use path will be constructed on the west side of the corridor and a sidewalk on the east side of the corridor. Thornton Avenue currently intersects Wood Street at a substandard angle and causes confusion and there are sight distance issues at the intersection. Thornton Road will be realigned to improve the intersection angle and provide better sight lines. The existing drainage system is a closed system which combines storm and sanitary. A new separate closed system will be constructed from 159th Street (US 6) to the Little Calumet River, which includes a new outfall within the right-of-way to the river. All intersections within the project with existing traffic signals will be replaced with the exception of 138th Street which will have its traffic signals relocated. There are 24 intersections within the project limits and nine of these are signalized. Existing IDOT lighting will be upgraded at all affected locations.
IEI performed both Phase I and Phase II design services for this $45M IDOT roadway replacement project. As a joint venture partner on the Phase I design team, IEI performed the collection of traffic data using manual traffic counts at the eight existing signalized intersections and three unsignalized intersections, the creation of strip map exhibits, a location drainage study, alternate geometric studies, crass analysis, traffic maintenance analysis, four intersection design studies, bridge inspections and bridge condition reports for three structures. As the prime consultant for Phase II design, IEI is responsible for all aspects of the final design.
Services
- Roadway/Highway
- Water Management
- Traffic
Owner
Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Region 1/District 1
Awards
- 2016 ACEC IL Engineering Excellence Merit Award, Wood Street Phase I