The I-57/70 Expansion and Safety Upgrade project was a multi-phase project that expanded the interchange of Interstate 57 and Interstate 70 through the heart of Effingham, Illinois. This roadway carries an average of 45,400 vehicles everyday with approximately 20,450 of them being trucks. This project included the addition of a third lane in each direction as well as six new bridges, seven bridge rehabilitations, safety upgrades and advanced work zone safety systems that were in place for the duration of the project. A multimodal component of the project involved the construction of a bicycle and pedestrian bridge to connect trails on both sides of the interstate. This project is a critical interstate route for cross-country freight traffic so communication and safety in the work zone included a traffic management system involving changeable message boards to relay information to motorists in the event of backups or delays.
