Illinois Department of Transportation started construction on Route 16 yesterday to repair damage done from high traffic in the area.

The concrete surface along Illinois Route 16 and County Highway 1 near Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital road needs to be resurfaced and patched to repair potholes and cracks, Mark Reeley, contract support manager for IDOT said.

“The condition of the road warranted resurfacing because of the volume of traffic,” he said.

The construction is part of Gov. George Ryan’s Illinois First Program aimed at repairing and improving the state’s infrastructure and Reeley said the $79,000 needed to repair the road will be taken from that fund.

While delays on the two lane highway are expected to be limited, crews may have to close one lane in each direction while using equipment. However, lanes will be open in both directions when crews are not working. Work is expected to end at the end of May, weather permitting.

“We do not expect to disrupt traffic that much on 16,” Reeley said.