Construction crews conducting milling and resurfacing work on Illinois Route 26.
Ogle County, Illinois, September 11, 2025
A $5.3 million resurfacing project on Illinois Route 26 in Ogle County is set to commence, affecting the stretch from Willow Street in Forreston to Hillside Drive in Polo. The project involves milling and resurfacing operations, which will lead to daily lane closures managed by flaggers. Motorists should expect reduced speeds and possible delays while crews work, which is expected to continue until early July of the following year.
What’s happening: A resurfacing project on Illinois Route 26 in Ogle County begins September 9, 2025. The work zone runs from Willow Street in Forreston to Hillside Drive in Polo. The project includes milling and resurfacing of the roadway and carries a price tag of $5.3 million.
The work will require daily lane closures, with traffic controlled by flaggers in active work zones. Motorists should expect reduced speeds and periodic delays through the corridor while crews complete pavement removal and new surface placement. The contractor will stage equipment and materials within the corridor, and drivers are urged to plan alternate routes or exercise extreme caution when traveling through work areas.
Work is scheduled to begin on September 9, 2025, and the project window extends through early July 2026. Timing can change because of weather, material deliveries, or other construction factors. Drivers should expect intermittent activity along the entire stretch between Forreston and Polo during the work period.
The contract calls for milling the existing pavement surface to remove worn material, followed by resurfacing to restore a smooth, durable driving surface. Milling removes the top layer of asphalt so crews can lay a new surface that improves ride quality and extends the life of the roadway. The work is part of routine pavement preservation and rehabilitation to keep the highway safe and reliable.
Daily lane closures will be in place and workers will manage traffic with flaggers. Temporary traffic control devices, signs, and reduced speed limits will be used where needed. Drivers should follow posted signs, obey flaggers, and avoid distractions. Local residents, businesses, and emergency services will be notified about access and timing changes when necessary.
This resurfacing job is part of a larger statewide highway program under the Rebuild Illinois initiative. The initiative plans investments across multiple modes of transportation and aims to enhance more than 3,200 miles of highway and nearly 9 million square feet of bridge deck in coming years. Rebuild Illinois has a total investment framework of $33.2 billion to maintain and upgrade transportation infrastructure.
Through Year Six of the program, accomplishments include nearly $20.8 billion in improvements statewide, covering 7,897 miles of highway, work on 815 bridges, and 1,181 additional safety improvements. This Route 26 resurfacing is one of many projects aimed at reducing long-term maintenance costs and improving roadway safety across the region.
Real-time traffic updates and construction notices will be available through the district traffic account on X at @IDOTDistrict2 and via the traveler information map at GettingAroundIllinois.com. Travelers are advised to check those resources before driving through the area, especially during peak travel hours or on days with active lane closures.
Drivers who regularly use Illinois Route 26 between Forreston and Polo should consider alternate routes when possible to avoid delays. Those who must travel the corridor should allow extra time, follow temporary traffic controls, and be prepared for changing road conditions. Businesses and local services along the corridor should plan for periodic access changes and coordinate deliveries with project schedules when practical.
Work crews will mobilize before major pavement operations begin. Advance warning signs and temporary traffic control will be installed ahead of significant work. As the project progresses, motorists can expect phased work areas, nighttime or daytime operations as needed, and periodic lane restrictions until resurfacing is complete in early July 2026.
The project starts September 9, 2025 and is expected to be complete by early July 2026, barring weather or other delays.
The work zone runs from Willow Street in Forreston to Hillside Drive in Polo on Illinois Route 26.
Crew tasks include milling and resurfacing to remove worn pavement and install a new driving surface.
The project budget is $5.3 million.
Yes. There will be daily lane closures with traffic controlled by flaggers in work zones.
Traffic updates are available on X at @IDOTDistrict2 and on the traveler map at GettingAroundIllinois.com.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Start date | September 9, 2025 |
| Expected completion | Early July 2026 |
| Location | Illinois Route 26: Willow Street (Forreston) to Hillside Drive (Polo) |
| Work type | Milling and resurfacing |
| Cost | $5.3 million |
| Traffic impacts | Daily lane closures; flaggers to control traffic |
| Traveler info | Updates via @IDOTDistrict2 on X and GettingAroundIllinois.com |
| Program | Part of Rebuild Illinois: $33.2 billion investment |
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