The Illinois Department of Transportation plans to rebuild East State Street (Route 38) from Glengarry Drive to the Fox River. The multi-year project encompasses roadway widening, streetscape enhancements, bike lanes, traffic signal upgrades, new street lighting, and water main/storm drainage infrastructure improvements.
Before work can commence on the East State Street reconstruction project, several utility companies are relocating underground infrastructure.
Nov. 7 Update
East State Street will have a new westbound lane closure, along with ongoing work in the eastbound lanes during the week of Nov. 10.
AT&T crews will continue working from Harrison to Sandholm streets to adjust previously installed infrastructure, which will require an overnight eastbound lane closure. This section of highway should reopen during daytime hours.
Nicor Gas will continue trenching down the eastbound State Street just east of East Side Drive. Eastbound traffic will be shifted to the north side of State Street, reducing Route 38 traffic to one lane in each direction from East Side Drive to Ridge/Briar lanes. Additionally, westbound State Street will be reduced to one lane from Woodlawn Street to Route 25 as Nicor switches gears to work on the other side of the state highway.
Verizon will begin restoration work and abandonment of its old fiber line/handholes. This work will be sporadic and may require brief lane closures in the eastbound and westbound lanes.
Ongoing utility work has been fluid, weather-dependent, and is subject to change. The City is awaiting future utility relocation schedules from Metronet and Comcast.
Zipper Merge
Motorists should expect delays and may want to consider alternate routes. Drivers should use caution when driving through the work zone and allow extra time to reach their destination. Geneva Police are encouraging drivers to use the zipper merge system to help alleviate significant backups that are occurring along the state highway.
Subscribe For Updates
The full East State Street reconstruction project is now tentatively expected to start in spring 2026 and be completed in late 2027, with punch list items to be finished the following year. The timeline is dependent on how quickly the utility relocations are resolved.
The public can subscribe to road construction updates via Notify Me on the City’s website. The City will provide updates when information is made available by IDOT or the utility companies.