Stripmine Road to close March 31

Road closure sign
By: 
Staff Report

    The east end of Stripmine Road will be closed for nearly three months for improvements at the Union Pacific Railroad Crossing, beginning March 31.
    The Illinois Department of Transportation and Union Pacific will be adding a second track and improving the intersection with Route 53.
    D Construction put up the road closure signs last Thursday. Only the section between the east side of Davy Lane and Route 53 will be affected.
    According to city engineer Colby Zemaitis, the new intersection for this location will no longer include the through lane from Route 53 westbound to Stripmine Road. All traffic will now have to utilize the T-intersection with the new traffic signals.
    The intersection will also be shifted to the west to align with the western entrance of the Circle K gas station, although that entrance will be closed. There will be exclusive right turn lanes for each leg of the intersection.
    The new traffic signals will be interconnected with the railroad crossing. The signals will come in the fourth stage of the four-stage project.
    Stripmine Road is scheduled to be closed until June 15. Detour signs will go up next week directing traffic to Coal City Road.
    The Union Pacific Railroad and Illinois Department of Transportation have assured the city of Wilmington that no two local railroad crossings will be closed at the same time. Improvements are also slated for the crossings at New River Road, Kankakee River Drive, Kankakee Street, First Street and Coal City Road.