Illinois Department of Transportation

Nine men out to tear out & replace one corner sidewalk (5 concrete slabs). Two hours — never more than three guys working at a time. Worst of all — watched one of the truck drivers throw up in my neighbors lawn while neighbor was cutting his lawn. The way the other eight «workers» were yucking it up the puker must have been hung over and/​or drunk. The driver then staggers across street to lean on a pole for twenty minutes before driving away behind the wheel of a DOT truck.

I am an adjunct instructor at a local university that is a bit of a hike from my house. To get there, I take 47 south from the Crystal Lake/​Huntley area out to Aurora.
That said, the construction that has been going on for almost TWO YEARS on 47 is becoming intolerable and completely non-​functional for drivers. This morning, I missed teaching my class, despite leaving nearly 45 minutes earlier than is usually necessary.
Why? Because a construction vehicle parked in the middle of the road, and the driver simply stayed there, talking to other workers, for at least 25 minutes (I don’t know what happened beyond that, because I left to try and salvage any lost time… which was impossible, because everything else around here is also under construction). Before leaving the route, I got out of my car and asked the flagger when we could expect to be moving. She simply replied, «There’s a truck in the road. I can’t do anything.» Helpful.
I’m not sure if the construction workers are sick of drivers speeding past them or whatever, but they are behaving like complete assholes, at least out in this area. It is completely unreasonable to keep two directions of traffic stopped for 30 minutes during the morning rush hour. That kind of crap needs to occur either in the middle of the night, or during off-​hours in the daytime. I am *livid* that I missed my class because of this nonsense. I am already being forced to leave a lot of extra time due to the construction on 47 at the highway ramp (that seems to be at the exact same level of progress as it was when it began a year and a half ago), as well as the excess of semi traffic on the road. If you need to get south and west of where I live, there are 2 options: Route 47 or Randall Road. Surprise! Randall Road is also under construction, and is nearly impassable between 72 and the 90 ramp.
This needs to stop. IDOT is dragging this out for some reason (likely to do with financial compensation), and it is beyond inconvenient at this point– it is unreasonable. Either finish the construction or get off the roads. I’d rather drive over potholes than watch a truck sit still & block all lanes of traffic in all directions for 30 minutes.

I had the best experience with IDOT last Thursday. I was in a cab coming home from O’Hare when we got into a 4 car fender bender. The cab driver swore that he had called someone to get me but after 30 minutes no one had showed up. IDOT came to the scene of the accident and saw that I was ok and in need of a cab. They found one with its light on and hailed it for me right on the expressway! Thank you IDOT for helping me get home!

Ugh. UTTER FAIL.
I’m beginning to think that all Illinois government offices run this way: inefficient, slow, and repetitive.
How many years has I55 been under construction?
How many years has the tollway been widening?
Best example:
I64/​40 Eastbound with three lanes of traffic. Sign: Two left lanes closed in 3 miles. One mile later: Right lane closed ahead sign. WHAT? WHAT’S CLOSED? And you wonder why there is a 5 mile traffic jam?!
Ugh. It turns out that the two left lanes are closed for like ¼ mile under an underpass. A half mile later, the right lane is closed for lane work. Whatever. My tax dollars at work. If only I had a Hovercraft.
IDOT = IDIOT

Considering what IDOT stands for, I find it highly ironic that their vehicles do nothing but block the flow of traffic.

I would like to add one thing to Steve Troy’s review of the IDOT. What the F are they thinking not salting the roads. As much as i love to turn my car into a giant ice skate and collide into random fixed objects, salt the freaking roads!

You fail to fill the potholes that at the last moment try to damage my car and slowly chop away at my sanity. There are only so many evasive maneuvers I can pull off IDOT. Pretty soon I’m going to be able to drive in a chase scene in an action movie due to all the road hazards you conveniently have ignored all over Chicago. This may be fun in the summer, but in the winter, you have almost caused my death a handful of times and almost bent one of my rims.