The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that Maple Street from the Fayette Avenue intersection to south of Edgar Street in Effingham will reopen on Thursday, December 14th, and Walnut Street east of Maple Street will close on the same day. 

The Walnut Street closure is necessary to reconstruct the intersection with eastbound Fayette Avenue.  Walnut Street will be closed from Fayette Avenue to 100 feet south of Fayette Avenue.  To access the areas south of the Walnut/Fayette intersection motorists should use Maple Street and Edgar Street.  One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction on Fayette Avenue during this closure.  Walnut Street is scheduled to reopen in early January. 

Motorists can expect delays and should allow for extra time for trips through the area.  Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using cellular devices and be alert for equipment and any workers that may be in the area. 

Over the next six years, IDOT is planning on improving more than 3,000 miles of highway and nearly 10 million square feet of bridge deck as part of the Rebuild Illinois capital program, which is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation.  This year, there were $12.1 billion of improvements statewide on 5,339 miles of highway, 533 bridges, and 762 additional safety improvements. 

For updates on District 7, follow on twitter, or view area construction information on gettingaroundillinois.com.