A Coles County stretch of highway is closing next Monday for a bridge replacement project that’s expected to last several months… so if this road is part of your regular route, it’s time to find an alternative starting next week.
The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that County Highway 31 (to some it’s County Road 150 E) will close starting Monday, July 13th, between Paradise Road and Etna Road.
The closure is necessary to replace the bridge over the Little Wabash River, located about a mile south of Paradise Road near Lake Mattoon. The project is expected to wrap up by late November as long as all goes to plan.
Beyond just replacing the bridge, the project will also improve the “smoothness” of the pavement of County Highway 31, along that length of road previously mentioned.
In the meantime, residents/drivers will need to find an alternate route. IDOT is reminding drivers to pay close attention to signage in the work zone, obey posted speed limits, put down their phones, and stay alert for workers and equipment on the road until project completion.
The project is part of the statewide “Rebuild Illinois” program, which is investing $33.2 billion into transportation improvements across the state over a six year period.
