The 100 to 200 block of Lincoln Highway has been the site of ongoing road construction, which has forced an awkward lane shift.

The site, which is undergoing a bridge replacement, has seen 14 documented auto accidents since April 1. Since Route 38 is owned by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the construction and operations are being handled by the state.

“There have been surprisingly few accidents in that area,” said DeKalb Police Sgt. Jim McDougall. “Most people are obeying the rules in the construction zone area.”

The accidents include six crashes in which the damage was estimated at more than $500, four accidents in which the damage was under $500, two accidents that resulted in injuries and one hit-and-run.

In comparison with frequent high-accident areas, the Lincoln Highway spot is relatively quiet.

“In areas like Sycamore Road and the intersection of Annie Glidden and Lincoln Highway, we usually see about 2 to 3 accidents a week,” McDougall said. “It does get busy, but we haven’t seen a great deal or an increase in accidents.”

Many of the accidents have been caused by drivers following too closely, failing to reduce their speed in the construction zone and failing to yield to the right-of-way.

“We have received one complaint from an area resident about speeding through the area, as well,” McDougall said.

Along the construction area, there are flashing arrow signs and barricades directing both lanes into a strip along the shoulder. These have been explained as standard traffic control standards by Joe Spika, construction field engineer and DeKalb County area supervisor for IDOT.

“I’ve seen some people speeding through the area, trying to get to the front of the line,” Spika said. “But it’s a standard merging procedure. When people obey it, everything works just fine.”

The construction, which is nearing its halfway point, will be moved to the adjacent side of the road by Thanksgiving. The process will be repeated on the other side of the bridge and Spika said the construction will “probably” be done by midsummer at the earliest.