Travel Midwest News Items

Drivers reminded to be alert for varied road conditions, reduce speed, keep safe distance from plows

DOWNERS GROVE, IL – The Illinois Tollway is mobilizing its full fleet of 196 snowplows in response to a winter snowstorm moving into the area Saturday and continuing overnight into Sunday. Varied roadway conditions are anticipated across the 12-county Illinois Tollway system and could affect drivers in some areas during their weekend travels. The Tollway’s Snow Operations Center is open to manage the agency’s systemwide response to the storm.

“We’ll be working to keep our customers safe during this storm. Our fleet of plows will operate continuously until our roads are clear of snow and ice and our roadway team will rapidly responding to any drivers who need assistance on our system,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “Safety is always our highest priority, so we urge our customers to help us protect them by slowing down during winter storms and increasing their distance from other vehicles, particularly plows and emergency responders.”

Drivers whose vehicles become disabled should activate their hazard lights and dial *999 from a cellphone for assistance.  Drivers should note the roadway they are using, as well as the direction of travel and nearest milepost or crossroad. For crashes involving property damage only, drivers should continue driving and report the incident to Illinois State Police Troop 15 at 630-241-6800 ext. 5042.

To respond to this weather event, the Illinois Tollway has a full complement of more than 200 staff and supervisors working per shift to ensure that roadways are kept clear of snow and ice. If necessary, the Tollway can operate its full complement of plows around the clock to remove snow and ice from its roads.

Drivers can receive real-time information on pavement conditions and roadway incidents by signing up for Tollway Trip Tweets at twitter.com from the Tollway’s website at illinoistollway.com. Tweeters can follow all five Tollway Trips or just the roadways that interest them. The five are: @94_294_Tollway, @I_90_Tollway, @I_88_Tollway, @I_355_Tollway and @IL_390_Tollway.

The Illinois Tollway reminds motorists the state’s “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.

Drivers also should use caution when passing snowplows. During heavy snowfall, snowplows often work in tandem to remove as much ice, slush and snow as possible from all lanes at once. When it is safe to pass, the plows spread out and allow traffic to flow around them.

Winter Weather Travel Tips

The Tollway offers the following travel tips to keep safe during dangerously cold weather:

1.  Be sure your cell phone is fully charged before heading out.
2.  Be sure tires are properly inflated during cold weather. Tires lose a pound of pressure for every 10 degrees the temperature drops.
3.  Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up and ensure that you have extra to account for additional driving time if the weather is unfavorable.
4.  Keep a cold weather safety kit in your car that includes gloves, boots, blankets, road flares, water and a flashlight with fresh batteries.
5.  Stranded motorists should turn on their emergency lights and remain in their vehicles until help arrives.
6.  Cell phone users should call *999 motorist assistance for roadway assistance and note the roadway and direction of travel and nearest milepost or crossroad.

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation is inviting the public to learn more and comment about the preliminary engineering and environmental study for U.S. 14 at Hartland/Hughes roads in McHenry County.    

Collaboration to help address rise in traffic fatalities, improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists  

• A standardized list of traffic safety infrastructure designs routinely submitted by CDOT that will not be subject to comprehensive IDOT review prior to installation. This will allow the city to design and self-certify curb cuts and other sidewalk improvements to make streets more walkable and accommodating for nonvehicular traffic, establishes 10-foot-wide vehicular lanes as the minimum lane width. 
• Clarified “Design Vehicle” standards to emphasize pedestrian safety at intersections. A design vehicle is the largest vehicle that is likely to use the facility with considerable frequency and its selection can significantly impact a road’s design and geometry. By agreeing to a more appropriate design vehicle for urban streets, certain state routes will be able to add safety features, such as curb extensions and bump-outs that shorten crossing distances for pedestrians.  
• An IDOT-CDOT working group to help formulate future agreements and enhance existing interagency collaboration. 

Drivers reminded to reduce speed, allow extra time for holiday travels 

•     Be sure your cell phone is fully charged before heading out. 
•     Be sure tires are properly inflated during cold weather. Tires lose a pound of pressure for every 10 degrees the temperature drops. 
•     Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up and ensure that you have extra to account for additional driving time if the weather is unfavorable. 
•     Keep a cold weather safety kit in your car that includes gloves, boots, blankets, road flares, water and a flashlight with fresh batteries. 
•     Stranded motorists should turn on their emergency lights and remain in their vehicles until help arrives. 
•     Cell phone users should call *999 motorist assistance for roadway assistance and note the roadway and direction of travel and nearest milepost or crossroad.

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that graffiti removal is scheduled to take place along the expressway system in Cook County over two consecutive nights, weather permitting, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday, Nov. 21 and Tuesday, Nov. 22. 

 Motorists can expect shoulder closures with brief lane closures as required and should allow extra time for trips through areas where workers are present. At all times, drivers are urged to pay close attention for flaggers and signs in work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment. If you encounter maintenance vehicles and workers, slow down, move over and give them space – it’s the law.

 Throughout the year, IDOT works in conjunction with the City of Chicago on graffiti removal operations but looks for the public’s cooperation as well.

 Graffiti can be extremely dangerous for those involved, with removal efforts costing hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. If you see this kind of vandalism taking place, please call law enforcement immediately. 

 For more information on IDOT projects, click here. Find traffic and road conditions at www.gettingaroundillinois.com. You also can follow IDOT on Facebook and Twitter.

October construction contracts awards include:

•  An $81.2 million contract to Judlau Contracting, College Point, NY, for roadway reconstruction and widening between Flagg Creek and the Hinsdale Oasis as part of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project.
•  $4 million contract to Foundation Mechanics, Chicago, IL, for earthwork and drainage improvements at Taft Avenue as part of the I-490 Tollway Project.
•  $2.5 million contract to Plote Construction, Hoffman Estates, IL, for improvements at the I-55 Ramp Toll Plaza as part of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project.
•  $958,903 contract to Sheridan Plumbing & Sewer, Bedford Park, IL, for watermain and sanitary sewer installation at the new Hoffman Estates (M-5) maintenance facility on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90).

October professional engineering services contract awards include:

•  $4.4 million contract to RS&H Inc./Kaskaskia Engineering Group, St. Charles, IL, for design services for the I-490 Tollway Project.
•  $1.9 million contract to Civiltech Engineering, Itasca, IL, design services for reconstruction of the York Road Bridge on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88).
•  $482,353 contract to Orion Engineers, Chicago, IL for systemwide underwater inspection and scour analysis of bridge structures.

Entering Year Four of Rebuild Illinois, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that multiple projects in the Peoria area are underway or planned, highlighting an ongoing commitment made possible by Gov. JB Pritzker's historic, bipartisan capital program. Twelve major projects represent a total investment of $245.3 million, improving safety and mobility while sustaining and creating good-paying jobs throughout the region.

"With the Rebuild Illinois capital plan, we are restoring and transforming Illinois's aging infrastructure," said Gov. Pritzker. "Rebuild Illinois is not only about investing in infrastructure but about investing in people and communities as well. In the coming months, IDOT will undertake projects that will ultimately create safer roads and bridges and provide jobs in the Peoria area and across the entire state."

Of the 12 major projects in the Peoria area, 10 of them are scheduled to be completed in 2022, with the remaining two in 2023.

"Improving our roadway infrastructure throughout the Peoria region with these 12 projects reflects that it is a priority for all levels of Illinois government," said Peoria Mayor Rita Ali. "Road investments in our region not only employ people from our communities, but also helps to bolster our economy."

Projects and traffic impacts include:

• Eastbound McClugage Bridge replacement began spring of 2019 and is estimated to be open in fall 2023, with demolition of the existing eastbound bridge to occur in 2024. Eastbound U.S. 150 is reduced to one lane. Northbound and southbound Illinois 29 are reduced one lane from Lorentz Avenue to Eureka Avenue, with the ramp to eastbound U.S. 150 from northbound Illinois 29 closed. Access to eastbound U.S. 150 from northbound Illinois 29 is available via a different ramp.
• inecrest Drive over Interstate 74 replacement will finish late this summer after starting in 2020. Periodic lane reductions will continue to be required on I-74. One lane is open in each direction on Pinecrest Drive, with signals at the ramps.
• Western Avenue from Adams Street to Lincoln Avenue reconstruction began last year and is scheduled to be completed in December. Full closure of Western Avenue between Malone Street and Adams Street.
• Interstate 474 from the Illinois River to I-74 resurfacing began last summer and will be completed in November. Lane reductions and ramp closures with detours.
• Illinois 74 from Morton to Goodfield painting, bridge overlay repairs and joint/bearing replacement work began last year and scheduled to be completed later this spring. Lane reductions in both directions.
• I-74 and I-474 and Illinois 6 interchange structure repairs and bridge deck overlay work began last year and scheduled to be complete this spring. Lane reductions and ramp closures with detours.
• McNaughton Bridge over the Illinois River in Pekin rehabilitation, joint replacement and deck repairs began in 2021 and scheduled to be completed this summer. Lane reductions at the intersection in Pekin with shifting lanes on the bridge using crossovers with one lane in both directions is to be expected.
• Illinois 8 structures: Nixon Run, Warsaw Creek and Kickapoo Creek Tributary structural overlay and joint repairs began in early April and scheduled to be completed in August. Traffic reduced to one lane operated by traffic signals.
• U.S. 24 1 mile west of Mapleton superstructure replacement began in early April and scheduled to be completed in October. Traffic is reduced to one lane in both directions.
• I-74 from east of Morton to Woodford County line resurfacing began in early April and is scheduled to be completed in November. Traffic is reduced to one lane in both directions.
• Broadway Road from Veterans Drive to Springfield Road resurfacing and drainage improvements began in March and is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2023. Detours will be posted throughout the project.
• Courtland Street from Walton Avenue to Main Street in Morton reconstruction and widening work begins in May and is scheduled to be completed in November. Detours for closures will occur throughout the project.

Passed in 2019, Rebuild Illinois is investing a total of $33.2 billion over six years into the state's aging transportation system, creating jobs and promoting economic growth. Rebuild Illinois is not only the largest capital program in state history, but also the first that touches all modes of transportation: roads and bridges, transit, waterways, freight and passenger rail, aviation, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.

"These projects represent another year that IDOT will be making transformational investments in the Peoria area and all across the state," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. "Please, pardon our dust while we Rebuild Illinois. When approaching and driving through any work zone, expect the unexpected and give workers a brake. Stay patient, put down the devices and slow down."

Accomplishments through March include approximately $7.3 billion of improvements statewide on almost 3,800 miles of highway, more than 370 bridges and nearly 550 additional safety improvements. Visit https://idot.click/Rebuild-Illinois for information and highlights of other Rebuild Illinois projects happening throughout the state.

Keep Us Alive Drive 45 is our commitment to keep workers and motorists safe in work zones. Each year, many people are killed in construction zone accidents, both commuters and workers. Please abide the posted speed limit in work zones. When workers are present, it's 45 M.P.H. - It's The Law.

Join us in our pledge to increase awareness and promote safe driving in our work zones by displaying an orange ribbon. Together we can make our roadways a safer place to commute and work. With your help, we can see to it that a construction zone is not an end zone.