EXPECT DELAYS FOR 1 YEAR: Route 38, Kautz Road Overpass Work Starts March 22

Route 38 near Kautz Road will be reduced to one lane as construction begins Friday on the long-awaited railroad-track overpass between Geneva and West Chicago.

The city of Geneva Police Department sent out a Nixel alert Thursday, letting drivers know to expect "signficant delays" that could last—get ready for this—as long as a year.

A grade-separation bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks will tighten traffic to one lane on Roosevelt Road (Route 38) from a point east of Elm Road continuing east past Kautz Road. Eastbound lanes will be closed, and westbound lanes will be used to provide one lane of eastbound traffic and one lane of westbound traffic.

The Illinois Department of Transportation says the road closure will likely cause significant traffic delays through this area. IDOT recommends motorists use alternative routes of travel to avoid this area.

If you're going west on Route 38, take Route 38, turn left on Fabyan Parkway then turn right on Kirk Road.

If you're traveling east on Route 38, take Kirk Road south to Fabyan Parkway, turn left onto Fabyan Parkway to Route 38.

"Please watch your vehicle speed if traveling through this construction area and watch for workers," the Nixel report says.

The work includes widening and reconstructing Route 38—two through lanes in each direction separated by a 30-foot barrier median, providing exclusive left turn lanes at various locations, and curb and gutter on the outside edges of pavement.

The intersection of Route 38 and Kautz Road will be incorporated on the new structure and a modernized signal system installed, according to the intergovernmental agreement between the city and DOT.

Additional work will include pavement removal, building removal, PCC pavement, HMA pavement, retaining walls, guardrail, storm sewer drainage system, water main construction, erosion and sediment control and utility adjustments.

SOURCE: City of Geneva Police Department, Nixel

PREVIOUS COMMENTS ON PATCH

• "Hooray! Will be so nice to have this done."
• "Can't wait for this to be done! Starting construction in November? Hmm? I hope it goes quickly because I've been reading about this project for years and years and nothing has ever come to fruition."
• "what a traffic nightmare!!! with 64 torn up, now 38 will be torn up...Fabyan will be even MORE backed up....and really 2 years to finish?? Quinn says the end of 2014!! UGH!!!!"
• "People have been whining about this for years, and now that it's finally going ahead people are whining about what a mess it will be. Of course it will be a mess, all construction is. Of course it's going to take a long time - it's a large project. You can't just stop all vehicle and train traffic for a year to get it done without interruption. Grit your teeth and plan extra time for your commute. You'll get through it, and two years from now you'll forget all about the inconvenience you went through."
• "@todd...I never whined about it before so please dont include everyone in that statement - you can always plan ahead with extra time in case of trains just like you stated above for planning for extra time for extra traffic ....Just stating that now everyone will be going around the construction which will back things up even further on fabyan and kirk...traffic is already really backed up at kirk and fabyan because there isnt a decent right turn lane. just going to make things worse is all I was sayin' "
• "Perhaps they will be change the traffic light at Kirk and Fabyan as a result of the increased traffic during the Rte 38 construction - two years really is a long time. I haven't noticed much change at Kirk and Fabyan yet, but I suspect it will really back up as the lanes go down to one on 38. In the end, though, you are both right....it will be painful, but we will get through it and likely forget about the headaches once the project is done. However, if its anything like most projects, the end of 2014 will somehow become 2015. :)"