Travel Midwest Construction Announcements

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9/12 UPDATE: The opening of the Adams Street exit and the closing of the Monroe Street exit have been rescheduled for Monday, Sept. 24, weather permitting.   

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that the Monroe Street exit from inbound I-90/94 (Kennedy Expressway) in Chicago, will be closed beginning, weather permitting, Monday, Sept 17. The closure is part of the overall Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction project.

The following ramps will close or reopen:

• The inbound Kennedy entrance ramp from Madison Street will be opening the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 11, weather permitting.
• The Monroe Street exit from the inbound Kennedy will be closed from Sept. 17 until late November, weather permitting. A detour will direct traffic to exit the expressway via Adams Street to Halsted Street and back to Monroe Street.
• The Adams Street exit from the inbound Kennedy will reopen on Monday, Sept. 17, weather permitting.

The Monroe Street bridge is one of several expressway bridge improvement projects included in the overall Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction. Of those bridges, the following are completed and open to traffic: Halsted Street, Taylor Street, Morgan Street, Harrison Street and Peoria Street.

The overall reconstruction project at the Jane Byrne Interchange will improve safety and traffic flow for the more than 400,000 motorists who use it each day, while also enhancing mobility for bicyclists, pedestrians and transit users in the surrounding neighborhoods. For more information and to view a live camera feed of the work zone, visit www.circleinterchange.org.

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that the Monroe Street exit from inbound Interstate 90/94 (Kennedy Expressway) in Chicago, will be closed beginning, weather permitting, Monday, Sept 17. The closure is part of the overall Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction project.

 The following ramps will close or reopen:

• The inbound Kennedy entrance ramp from Madison Street will be opening the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 11, weather permitting.
• The Monroe Street exit from the inbound Kennedy will be closed from Sept. 17 until late November, weather permitting. A detour will direct traffic to exit the expressway via Adams Street to Halsted Street and back to Monroe Street.
• The Adams Street exit from the inbound Kennedy will reopen on Monday, Sept. 17, weather permitting.  

The Monroe Street bridge is one of several expressway bridge improvement projects included in the overall Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction. Of those bridges, the following are completed and open to traffic: Halsted Street, Taylor Street, Morgan Street, Harrison Street and Peoria Street. 

The overall reconstruction project at the Jane Byrne Interchange will improve safety and traffic flow for the more than 400,000 motorists who use it each day, while also enhancing mobility for bicyclists, pedestrians and transit users in the surrounding neighborhoods. For more information and to view a live camera feed of the work zone, visit www.circleinterchange.org.

The Illinois Department of Transportation announces that a road closure will be installed on IL-82 under the Iowa Interstate Railroad in Geneseo.

The road closure will begin at 7 a.m. Monday, Sept. 24, and conclude by 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28. Please follow the marked truck detour, which uses West Exchange Street, North Center Street and West First Street.

IDOT workers will be performing drainage repairs. Please slow down and use extreme caution while driving through all work zones.

For IDOT District 2 updates on Twitter, follow us at http://twitter.com/IDOTDistrict2. 

The Illinois Department of Transportation would like to alert motorists that the new traffic signals at the intersection of IL-13 and Old IL-13 (West Poplar Street) in Harrisburg will be operational on Thursday, Sept. 27.

Motorists should use caution while entering the intersection and be prepared to stop. Motorists should reduce speed, be alert to equipment and workers and use extreme caution while traveling through all work zones.

For IDOT District 9 updates on Twitter, follow us at http://twitter.com/IDOTDistrict9. 

The Illinois Department of Transportation announces that lane closures on I-55/74 over the Union Pacific Railroad and Sugar Creek west of Bloomington will begin Monday, Sept. 24.

The closures are necessary for crews to perform repairs to the bridge that carries I-55/74 over the Union Pacific Railroad and Sugar Creek west of Bloomington. Two lanes will remain open at all times during this work, which is expected to last through the end of October.

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. To avoid the work area, when feasible, use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment.

For IDOT District 5 updates on Twitter, follow us at http://twitter.com/IDOTDistrict5. 

For IDOT District 8 updates on Twitter, follow us at http://twitter.com/IDOTDistrict8.  

ON SOUTHBOUND TRI-STATE TOLLWAY (I-294)

Second weekend of overnight lane reductions and ramp closures at 75^th Street
needed to complete bridge pavement repairs

 DOWNERS GROVE, IL – Lane closures are scheduled again this weekend on the southbound Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to complete repairs begun last weekend on the Mile Long Bridge. In addition, temporary closure of the entrance ramp from 75^th Street to southbound I-294 will also be required. Delays are expected.

 Electronic message signs and construction signage will be put in place to alert drivers in advance. The lane and ramp closures are necessary to provide a work zone that safely accommodates pavement resurfacing work. All work is weather dependent.

 Beginning Friday, September 21, lane closures are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. with southbound traffic reduced to a single lane by midnight. Overnight resurfacing work is scheduled to continue into the morning of Saturday, September 22, with all southbound lanes scheduled to reopen by noon. Similar closures are scheduled to resume at 7 p.m. Saturday night and continue through noon on Sunday, September 23.

 In addition, on Saturday, September 22, the ramp carrying traffic from 75^th Street to southbound I-294 is scheduled to close at 7 p.m. and reopen to traffic by noon on Sunday, September 23. The ramp closures are necessary to safely accommodate traffic and workers during repairs. No detours will be posted. Drivers will be able to access southbound I-294 via the Wolf Road Interchange to the north in Indian Head Park.

 Closures and Mile Long Bridge repairs are being coordinated with the Illinois Department of Transportation and Cook County, along with local municipalities and police and fire departments.

 Repair work on the Mile Long Bridge is necessary to extend the life of the bridge structure and enable the Tollway to provide safe and convenient travel for customers. More than 150,000 vehicles use this bridge daily. The work is part of the Illinois Tollway’s 15-year, $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future.

 Construction information about the Mile Long Bridge Repairs is available in the “Projects by Roadway” section in the Explore Projects section on the Tollway’s website at illinoistollway.com.

 Work Zone Safety

The Illinois Tollway is committed to ensuring that the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and other area roadways remain safe for both drivers and workers during construction, which is part of the agency’s overall commitment to roadway safety.

 Construction zone speed limits are in effect in all construction zones 24/7 and drivers should continue to watch for changing traffic patterns and use caution, especially when workers are present. On I-294, a 45 mph work zone speed limit is in effect throughout the construction season.

 The Illinois Tollway reminds motorists that the “Move Over Law” requires motorists to change lanes or to slow down and proceed with caution when passing any vehicle on the side of the road with hazard lights activated. If you see flashing lights ahead, please move over or slow down.

Illinois State Police have zero tolerance for drivers speeding in work zones or failure to comply with the Move Over Law.

 The minimum penalty for speeding in a work zone is $375. Posted signs advise drivers of a $10,000 fine and a 14-year jail sentence for hitting a roadway worker.

 Penalties for failure to slow down or move over for a vehicle on the shoulder with flashing lights includes up to a $10,000 fine, 2-year suspension of driving privileges and jail time, in extreme cases.

 About Move Illinois

The Illinois Tollway’s 15-year, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, is improving mobility, relieving congestion, reducing pollution, creating as many as 120,000 jobs and linking economies throughout the region. The first six years of Move Illinois are on schedule and within budget, delivering the new Illinois Route 390 Tollway and a rebuilt and widened Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) with its new SmartRoad corridor, as well as opening a new interchange connecting the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to I-57. Progress continues on projects addressing the remaining needs of the existing Tollway system, delivering the new I-490 Tollway Project and reconstruction of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and planning for emerging projects. 

About the Illinois Tollway

The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 294 miles of roadways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80) and the Illinois Route 390 Tollway. 

Project removes longtime bottleneck, improves O’Hare access

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that the new Cumberland Flyover will be open to traffic, weather permitting, in time for the morning commute on Thursday, Sept. 20. The joint project with the Illinois Tollway removes a longtime bottleneck, improves safety and enhances access in and out of O’Hare International Airport and surrounding areas. 

“The Cumberland Flyover brings relief to one of the most congested points in the Chicago region and highlights the teamwork between IDOT and the Tollway,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn. “Business owners and residents, customers and workers at O’Hare will see the benefits immediately. By modernizing this crucial travel corridor, we make the region safer and poised for even more economic growth for years to come.” 

The project broke ground in 2016 and involved building a new two-lane flyover bridge that spans both Interstate 190 and the Chicago Transit Authority’s Blue Line to better accommodate inbound Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) exiting onto the busy Cumberland Avenue interchange.  A new collector-distributor road from inbound I-190 also connects to the new ramp and the jobs and businesses along Cumberland Avenue.

“The improvements that IDOT is delivering at Cumberland are the result of our coordinated planning efforts on the I-90 Corridor as a whole,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Liz Gorman. “In addition to supporting the Illinois Tollway’s I-90 Rebuilding and Widening Project completed in 2016, these improvements are providing better traffic flow between the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and I-190 to the Kennedy Expressway, along with direct access to the Cumberland ramps.”

To coincide with the recent reconstruction and widening of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, IDOT currently is building an additional inbound Kennedy Expressway (I-90) lane between Cumberland and Harlem avenues as part of the project. Construction of a new lane in the outbound direction began earlier this year and will open in 2020.

The project was planned by IDOT and the Tollway, with the Tollway contributing toward construction.

An advance project by IDOT rebuilt the East River Road bridge over the expressway. The project made possible the construction of the flyover bridge and the additional lanes on the Kennedy. 

 www.idot.illinois.gov

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that ongoing bridge repairs will require reducing northbound I-94 (Bishop Ford Freeway) at Stony Island Avenue, in Chicago, from two lanes to one lane beginning, weather permitting, Monday, Sept. 24.

Starting at 11 p.m. until completion of the project in late October, the northbound Bishop Ford will be reduced to one lane after the Stony Island Avenue exit, with a width restriction of 10 feet 10 inches. There also will be occasional shoulder closures on southbound Stony Island Avenue underneath the bridge.

Motorists can expect long delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes as delays are expected.

Click here to find details on other construction projects in IDOT’s District 1. Updates on the impacts to traffic are available at www.travelmidwest.com. 

Closure needed for repair work, detour will be posted

An extended ramp closure with detour is scheduled to begin this week and continue through early October for pavement and bridge repair work on the ramp connecting the southbound Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355) to 63rd Street.

Electronic message signs and construction signage will be put in place in advance to alert drivers to the ramp closure and detour. The closure is necessary to safely provide a work zone for pavement patching on the ramp, as well as repairs on the ramp bridge over Jackson Drive.

Weather permitting, on Thursday, September 20, the ramp connecting southbound I-355 to 63rd Street is scheduled to close with a posted detour. The detour will direct traffic to continue south to the 75th Street Interchange and then route traffic via Illinois Route 53 to reach Hobson Road/63rd Street.

The project is being coordinated with the Illinois Department of Transportation, DuPage County, Village of Woodridge and local fire and police departments.

In 2018, the Illinois Tollway has scheduled roadway, bridge and ramp work on throughout the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355). Between Army Trail Road and I-55, work includes resurfacing to provide a smoother riding surface for the traveling public, including widening of the roadway between Butterfield Road (IL-56) and Roosevelt Road (IL-38). In addition, roadway lighting, signage and guardrail improvements are scheduled, as well as retaining wall and noisewall work. All work is scheduled to be complete in summer 2019.

The improvements are funded by the Illinois Tollway’s 15-year program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future.

Maps and construction information about the I-355 Roadway Resurfacing and Repair work is available on the Tollway’s website at Illinoistollway.com via the Interactive Tollway map and under “Projects Overview” in the Explore Projects section. 

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that lane closures will take place this week on southbound I-290/IL-53 between IL-72 (Higgins Road) and I-90 (Jane Addams Tollway). The lane closures are necessary for bridge repairs along southbound I-290/IL-53.

In order to complete the project, southbound I-290/IL-53 will be reduced to two express lanes and one local lane through the work zone by Friday, Aug. 10, weather permitting. The project is expected to be completed in late fall.

The improvements consist of bridge repairs on southbound I-290/IL-53 over I-90, IL-58 (Golf Road), Woodfield Road and Higgins Road in Schaumburg and Rolling Meadows.

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.

Click here to find details on other construction projects in IDOT’s District 1. Updates on the impacts to traffic are available at www.travelmidwest.com.

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that improvements to the intersection of IL-31 (Western Avenue) and Huntley Road, in Carpentersville, will require lane closures beginning, weather permitting, Monday, Sept. 17.

The project consists of reconstructing the intersection and adding dual left turn lanes as well as storm sewers, traffic signals and retaining walls.

East of IL-31, Huntley Road becomes Main Street. In order to complete the work, Main Street will become one way eastbound. Westbound traffic will be closed between IL-31 and North Lincoln Avenue, with a detour directing motorists to Washington Street, Williams Street, Lake Marian Road, IL-25, IL-68, IL-72 and Western Avenue to reconnect with Huntley Road.

The work is expected to be complete in November 2019.

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.

Click here to find details on other construction projects in IDOT’s District 1. Updates on the impacts to traffic are available at www.travelmidwest.com.

I-490/I-90 Interchange Project Starts with Advance Work, Shoulder Closures on I-90

Construction is beginning to build a new, full-access interchange that will connect the new I-490 Tollway to the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) in Des Plaines, with advance work getting underway this week to prepare for the construction of ramps and bridges.

The new I-490/I-90 Interchange will consist of four ramps, including a ramp bridge over I-90 connecting westbound I-90 to I-490, constructed west of Mount Prospect Road and will provide full access between the two Tollways. In addition, the I-490/I-90 Interchange Project will also include construction of a new multi-span bridge that will carry I-490 over the Metropolitan Water Reclamation of Greater Chicago’s Touhy Avenue Reservoir south of I-90. The project is scheduled to be complete in 2023.