(FAIRBANKS, Alaska) – The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) will open Illinois Street to two-way traffic on Monday, Nov. 12.

ADOT&PF will host an official opening on the same day. The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which will include:

• A procession of Fairbanks-area veterans across the Veterans’ Memorial Bridge, commonly  known as the Barnette Street Bridge
• A parade of antique cars
• A brief program and reception at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center

The procession will  travel south at 1 p.m. from Monroe Catholic School down Illinois Street, across the Veterans’ Memorial Bridge, down 1st Avenue to Wendell Street, ending at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. The program will begin at approximately 1:15 p.m.

After the project opens, a new permanent traffic pattern will be in place. Southbound traffic on Illinois Street will flow over the Veterans Memorial Bridge onto Barnette Street. Northbound traffic will use the Cushman Street Bridge to travel onto Illinois Street.

ADOT&PF reminds the public to use caution and drive slowly through Illinois Street as Fairbanks drivers become accustomed to the new traffic pattern, intersections and flashing yellow arrow signals.
In September, ADOT&PF approved a $1.1 million acceleration of the Illinois Street Reconstruction project, which included advanced construction of Noyes Slough Bridge, with the goal of completing the majority of the project this year. Items to be finished in 2013 are the replacement of the Noyes Slough Bridge, landscaping, and pedestrian and bike paths along the Chena River. Total construction cost is $23.6 million; H.C. Contractors of North Pole began work on the project in April.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 255 airports, 11 ferries serving 35 communities, 5,619 miles of highway and 720 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Get Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”

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