Joliet · eastbound I-80
Taking Larkin Avenue? Choose your lane before the I-80 split.
IDOT scheduled an eastbound I-80 lane split after Houbolt Road. In that layout, Larkin Avenue traffic must stay right; the left lane continues to Chicago Street.
What the sources establish
IDOT’s November 4 notice scheduled the change for November 8, weather permitting. Two eastbound lanes would separate around a center work zone after Houbolt Road and rejoin before Center Street. The agency expected the arrangement to last approximately one month.
The right lane provides the Larkin Avenue exit. Drivers using the left through lane cannot exit until Chicago Street (U.S. 52/Illinois 53). The November 7–8 overnight ramp closures and traffic stops in the announcement were setup measures, not a notice of continuous ramp closure.
As checked November 10, the cited announcement remains a schedule rather than independent confirmation of the lane layout on the ground. Check current IDOT conditions and follow posted work-zone signs.
Crossroads perspective
A practical next step
Review the exit with dispatch before reaching Houbolt Road. Allow extra time for the work zone and pass an updated arrival window to the shop or parts desk if the route affects your visit.
Read the sources
Sources, dates & corrections
This November 9 research edition was updated and its sources checked November 10, 2026. Source publication dates and event periods appear on each story. The October 30 edition and its stories remain available in the archive.
Road notices are dated planning information, not live routing instructions. Preliminary estimates may be revised; company announcements and private-network research are identified. Platform improvements are not new trucking laws. Market commentary about proposals does not establish an enacted rule.
Crossroads perspective sections are editorial recommendations. Confirm location, appointment and equipment details with the team. Decatur is parts only; service is available through Effingham, Bedford and Vincennes.
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