Work has started on a $27.5m project to renovate the Bishop Ford Freeway (I-94) in Illinois.

The project includes upgrading of 9-mile stretch of the Bishop Ford highway from Martin Luther King Drive to 159th Street.

Other work includes resurfacing all lanes and shoulders, pavement patching, bridge repairs, new guardrail installations lane and exit/entrance ramp resurfacing.

The work is being carried out by closing lanes alternately and posting temporary detours.

Efforts are being made to reduce the traffic, although in some sections only two or one lane will be open during peak weekday travel hours.

Mainly funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the project is expected to be complete by mid-2009.