Homewood Dixie Highway Viaduct Closure Set for Flood Mitigation Project

The closure of Homewood’s Dixie Highway viaduct is scheduled to begin on September 22. This decision comes from an Illinois Department of Transportation flood mitigation and resurfacing initiative. Initially planned for June, this project was delayed due to required utility work.

The viaduct will remain fully closed for a minimum span of 90 days, as stated by the village.

Officials anticipated a start date of June 8, which did not materialize because of utility-related tasks. While the temporary closure poses inconvenience for drivers and commuters, long-term benefits include reduced flooding and enhanced safety, drainage, and road reliability.

Beyond viaduct improvements, the project focuses on new pavement and updated traffic flow between Spruce Road and Park Avenue. Temporary detour routes are designated for travelers during this period.

Southbound detour: Turn right off Dixie Highway onto 175th Street, proceed south on Governors Highway, and turn left onto 183rd Street.

Northbound detour: Turn right off Dixie Highway onto Ridge Road, then right onto Ashland Avenue, ending with a left onto 171st Street.

Flooding under the viaduct is a persistent issue, exacerbated by recent severe storms. Homewood experienced two EF-1 tornadoes this summer, on July 27 and August 11, resulting in temporary closures of the viaduct due to impassable conditions.

The project’s timeline, initially extending to 2027, advanced following IDOT’s assessment of urgent drainage concerns. The aim is to alleviate recurrent flooding problems.

Homewood Public Works Director Joshua Burman acknowledged the frequent necessity to close the viaduct during heavy rains. He responded, This is long overdue with all the flooding that we’ve been having at the north viaduct. He stated the frequent closures occur during significant rainfall events, requiring intervention until water levels subside.