Starting the week of Aug. 11, one lane of traffic in each direction will be opened on the new Route 38 bridge over the Union Pacific railroad tracks on the City’s east side.

Motorists should use caution when driving on the overpass since construction is ongoing in the surrounding area.

Northbound Kautz Road access from Route 38 will be closed to traffic until the new roadway configuration is completed. A new detour route will direct Route 38 drivers north on Kirk Road, east on Averill Road and north on Kautz Road. From Averill, southbound Kautz will only allow access to Roquette University and Prairie Landing Golf Club. The detour route is expected to remain in place until early summer 2015.

The $28 million overpass project, which is being primarily funded with federal and state grants, will realign Route 38 just south of the existing roadway and feature a T-intersection with Kautz Road. Two wider through lanes in each direction will allow cars to travel over the train tracks. Other project scope details will include left turn lanes at various locations, curb and gutter work and new modernized traffic signals.

Geneva’s portion of the project is about $250,000, which will pay for intersection improvements at Route 38 and Kautz Road, electric work and water main relocations.

Route 38 has remained open during construction, which began in late 2012, but traffic has been reduced to one lane in each direction. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes (Kirk Road and Fabyan Parkway) to avoid the area.

Once completed, more than 21,000 vehicles will be able to bypass the railroad crossing on a daily basis, which averages 129 commuter and freight trains each day. The overpass also will reduce pollution with enhanced traffic flow and cars no longer idling waiting for trains to clear the train tracks. The target completion date is summer or fall 2015.

Project updates can be found by visiting the City’s website at the link below.