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The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) today announced the execution of a contract to construct a new box culvert for the future Wisconn Valley Way, and replace the box culvert on CR-KR.

Hoffman Construction Company of Black River Falls is the primary contractor for the project. They submitted the lowest of three bids received.

The drainage structures will be installed in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ stream and migratory bird limitation timeframes. Installing these culverts prior to the roadway construction protects area resources, accelerates adjacent road construction, and facilitates the next phase of scheduled improvement projects.

A preconstruction meeting is currently scheduled to take place the week of September 24th. Construction is expected to begin in early October.

This project is currently scheduled for completion in early 2019.

Information about the Wisconn Valley development roads is available on the WisDOT’s 511 construction projects site: https://projects.511wi.gov/fdr/  

Free safety seat checks and kids ID cards at K.I.S.S. event at IKEA in Schaumburg

The Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police District 15 are working to keep children safe every trip, every time through Operation Kid 2018 and are hosting a free Kids’ Identification and Safety Seat (K.I.S.S.) event Saturday, September 22, at the IKEA in Schaumburg.

“We invite families to stop by, pick up ID cards for their kids and get their child safety seats checked while they have some fun with our District 15 and Tollway safety experts,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Liz Gorman. “Operation Kid helps parents and caregivers keep kids safe this summer in three easy steps.”

The next Operation Kid K.I.S.S. event is scheduled Saturday, September 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the IKEA, 1800 E. McConnor Parkway in Schaumburg. Safety seat inspections will take place in the far south section of the parking lot closest to McConnor Parkway, while kids' ID cards will be processed in the first floor lobby area inside the store.

K.I.S.S. event highlights include:

·        Free identification cards for children ages 3 and older.

·        Child safety seat inspections and installations.

·        Coloring station.

Operation Kid 2018 K.I.S.S. events make staying safe quick and convenient for parents, grandparents, caregivers, and fun for kids by providing free kids’ ID cards and child safety seat inspection and installation help. K.I.S.S. events are scheduled throughout Northern Illinois in 2018. Learn more about the facts and event details at the Tollway’s website at illinoistollway.com.

Operation Kid 2018 – It’s as easy as 1-2-3!

1 – Find an event near you!

The Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police District 15 are hosting the free K.I.S.S. events at convenient locations, including children’s museums, malls and Tollway oases.

A complete list is available on the Tollway’s website at illinoistollway.com.

2 – Get a photo ID card for your child

At K.I.S.S. events, trained professionals take photographs and fingerprints of children 3 and older and gather vital information to include on an ID card that parents and caregivers can reference in an emergency.

Up to 90 percent of families will at some point temporarily lose a child in a public place, surveys indicate. Kids IDs are tools that provide police with accurate descriptions to help locate lost children.

3 – Make sure your child’s safety seat is safely installed

Certified child passenger safety technicians inspect child safety seats and help with proper positioning and installation, as well as provide information on correct sizing, expiration dates and recalls to protect children most effectively.

Properly installed child safety seats save lives and significantly reduce injuries in the event of a crash. Yet, Illinois State Police find that approximately 90 percent of child safety seats they inspect are improperly installed.

“One child fatality on Illinois roadways is one too many,” said District 15 Commander Robert Meeder. “K.I.S.S. events offer a convenient way for drivers to make sure they comply with Illinois law, which requires that whenever a person is transporting a child under age 8, the person is responsible for properly securing the child in an appropriate child restraint system.”

The Illinois Tollway offers its deepest sympathies to the family, friends and co-workers of the roadway worker killed last night.  

An employee of an Illinois Tollway contractor was fatally struck by a vehicle Friday night while working on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) near IL-72/Higgins Road in Rosemont.
 
The Tollway has no further information at this time regarding the nature of the accident as the crash is under investigation by Illinois State Police District 15.
 
This incident tragically emphasizes once again the importance of drivers slowing down in work zones for the safety of our construction workers, Tollway maintenance workers, state police and first responders.

Fast facts:

• MDOT previously announced a currency parity policy effective April 1, 2016, for the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron.
• The Canadian rate for eastbound traffic will be reviewed and adjusted April 1 and Oct. 1 of each year.
• The rate adjustments are rounded to the nearest $0.25 and calculated based on the prior six-month average daily exchange rates between U.S. and Canadian currencies. 

September 10, 2018 -- In accordance with the Blue Water Bridge parity rate adjustment policy, toll rates paid in Canadian currency (CAD) will increase by $0.25. Based on the current average daily exchange rate, the toll rates below will be in effect Oct. 1, 2018, through March 30, 2019:

• Passenger vehicle tolls will increase to $4 (CAD) per trip.
• Extra axles will increase to $4 (CAD) per trip.
• Trucks and buses per axle will increase to $4.25 (CAD) per trip.  

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) encourages drivers to be aware of changing travel conditions and “know before you go” with 511 Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s Travel Information website. Despite the recent sunny weather, WisDOT is actively monitoring Interstates in southern Wisconsin due to rising waterways.
 
High traffic volumes occur on the northbound lanes of I-39/90; I-90/94 and I-39 on Friday afternoon and during the evening. Peak traffic volumes on the southbound Interstate lanes occur on Sunday afternoon and evening. Delays are anticipated, and drivers are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and use alternate routes.

Lane closures are anticipated over the weekend on sections of the I-39/90, I-90/94 and I-39 corridors in Dane and Columbia counties as water levels gradually rise in the area. Motorists should be alert for crews and equipment and proceed with caution through all work zones.

Water is expected to crest during the weekend at the I-90/94 and I-39 interchange near Portage in Columbia County, which may require lane closures in this area.
 
Motorists are advised to continue checking 511wi.gov for information regarding statewide impacts.

Current state highways closed due to flooding:

Columbia County

• I-39 southbound reduced to one lane near the WIS 33 interchange at Portage until 7 p.m. today (Sept. 7).
• I-39 southbound ramp closed to WI-33 near Portage. No detour.
• WI-33 ramp to I-90/94 westbound closing at 6 p.m. (Sept. 7) No detour.
• WI-127 closed in Wisconsin Dells (Zeitz Road and Lewiston Station Road). No detour.

Crawford County

• WI-131 closed in Soldiers Grove (Pleasant Street to 3rd Street). No detour.
• WI-131 closed between WI-179 (Steuben) and WI-171 (Gays Mills). No detour.
• WI-131 closed at US-60, east of Wauzeka. No detour.
• WI-171 closed between WI-27 (Mt. Sterling) and US-61 (Rolling Ground). No detour.
• WI-179, Closed, WI-27 at Eastman to WI-131 at Steuben. 

Dane County

• US-14 closed between Cross Plains and Black Earth; traffic detoured via WI-78 and US-12.

Marquette County

• WI-22 is closed at the Main Street bridge over the Montello River in Montello; traffic detoured via WI-33, WI-44, WI-73 and WI-23.

Sauk County

• WI-33 closed at Albert Street in Reedsburg. No detour.
• WI-113 closed from Washington Avenue (Baraboo) to CR-W. No detour.
• WI-136 closed from WI-33 (Rock Springs) to WI-154 (Rock Springs). No detour.
• WIS 154 closed between WI-23 (south of Reedsburg) to WI-136 (Rock Springs). No detour.

Vernon County

• WI-131 closed between Ontario and Rockton. Traffic detoured via WI-82 and WI-33.  

Removal will allow construction of new lanes to reduce congestion and improve travel

The Illinois Tollway today announced the O’Hare Oasis pavilion will close at midnight on Wednesday, September 5, so work can begin to remove the over-the-road structure as part of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project.

The two adjoining fuel stations and convenience stores operated by 7-Eleven will remain open and continue to provide services for both northbound and southbound travelers along I-294.  In addition, the Tollway will be relocating the I-PASS Customer Service Center to the Hinsdale Oasis in September.

Removing the oasis will allow a fifth lane to be added in each direction as part of the Tollway project to reconstruct the Central Tri-State Tollway from Balmoral Avenue to 95th Street. The Central Tri-State Tollway is being reconstructed to provide congestion relief, update old infrastructure to meet current and future transportation demand and address regional needs.

“While it is sad to close the chapter on a part of the agency’s history, we’re excited about what the future will bring,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Liz Gorman. “Removing the oasis will allow us to make tremendous roadway improvements that will benefit our customers by reducing travel times and improving service.”

The closing date will give oasis tenants time to remove their equipment from inside the building before the Tollway begins utility work in September and preparation to remove the over-the-road structure. The removal contract, which also includes restoring the site and making parking lot improvements, is expected to be completed in 2019.

The Central Tri-State Tollway Project is part of the Tollway’s 15-year program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. More than 220,000 vehicles use the Central Tri-State Tollway daily.

A detailed planning and refinement process is underway to complete design and construction plans for reconstruction of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294), including reconfiguring the I-290/I-88 Interchange at I-294, rebuilding the Mile Long Bridge and the BNSF Railway Bridge as well as integrating Flex Lanes and SmartRoad technology. The Central Tri-State Concept includes findings and draft recommendations being considered and evaluated by the Tollway as it moves forward in the reconstruction of the Central Tri-State.

Information about the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project is available on the Tollway’s website at illinoistollway.com via the Interactive Tollway Map and under “Projects Overview” in the Explore Projects section.

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.