Motorists should expect daily lane closures as the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) prepares to resurface South Batavia Avenue (Route 31) in Geneva this spring.

Starting Friday, May 1, IDOT will begin a two-month project that will run from Elizabeth Place south into Batavia. The project scope includes tree removals, concrete curb/sidewalk work, manhole cover adjustments, street patching, resurfacing and pavement marking installation. Some construction mobilization, preliminary site work and other utility relocations could begin in April.

Signage and flaggers will be present throughout the construction zone, and drivers should expect delays. People wanting to avoid the area can take Crissey Avenue (Route 25) as an alternate route.

Once the road is resurfaced, IDOT is tentatively planning to restripe a segment of Route 31 as part of the “road diet” concept that was submitted by the City to the State last month.

After initially being proposed by neighbors in 2014, the Geneva City Council approved a resolution this winter recommending Route 31’s traffic lanes be reduced from four to two (plus a center turn lane) from Elizabeth Place south to the 1500 block of South Batavia Avenue. Neighbors and City officials believe the lane reconfiguration would enhance safety on the state highway.

The City is waiting for final IDOT review comments on the “road diet” plan.

Geneva will be providing construction updates so people can plan their commute accordingly. Visit the City’s project webpage (see link below) for more information on the project and “road diet” report. People can also subscribe to receive updates via email or text messages.