Ongoing ramp closures with detours and overnight lane closures continuing for ComEd transmission line work

Overnight ramp and lane closures are scheduled to begin next week and continue into March on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) at the I-290 Interchange to provide a work zone to safely accommodate work related to the relocation of ComEd transmission lines for Illinois Tollway construction. Delays are expected.

Electronic message signs and construction signage will be put in place in advance to alert drivers to the overnight closures and detours. All work is weather dependent. Up-to-date information regarding lane closures will be available in the Illinois Tollway’s Daily Construction Alerts.

Drivers can anticipate ongoing overnight ramp and lane closures continuing through 2021 on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), as well as I-290 and some local roads, as ComEd continues to relocate transmission lines for Illinois Tollway’s reconstruction of the Central Tri-State Tollway. The Illinois Tollway and Illinois Department of Transportation are working to schedule this work during overnight hours to reduce the impact on daily commuters.

“As part of the Illinois Tollway’s dedication to safety, we are committed to prioritizing the safety of both drivers and workers during construction,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director José Alvarez. “We understand the inconvenience that this approach to roadwork can cause, so we are always working to find ways when possible to reduce the impact of this disruption to our customers.”

Overnight Sunday, February 28 into Monday, March 1, lane closures, including intermittent 15-minute full roadway closures in both directions are scheduled on I-294 and I-290 near North Avenue, where both interstates run parallel to one another, for the removal of a ComEd utility wire that crosses both roadways.

On I-294, two northbound lanes are scheduled to close at 10 p.m., with a third lane closure at midnight, and two southbound lanes are scheduled to close at 11 p.m. with a third lane closing at 1 a.m. On I-290, two lanes in both directions are scheduled to close at 11 p.m. with a third lane in both directions closing at midnight. On both I-294 and I-290, intermittent 15-minute full closures will begin after 1:00 a.m.

In addition, temporary closure of the ramp connecting northbound I-290 to Lake Street and the ramp connecting North Avenue to southbound I-290 will be needed during the full roadway closures.

All lanes and ramps on both I-294 and I-290 are scheduled to reopen by 5 a.m. on Monday, March 1. If this work cannot be completed during this time, similar closures will be scheduled during the week of March 1.

Additional scheduled overnight lane and ramp closures in March include:

•     On Monday, March 1 at 9 p.m., the ramp connecting eastbound Lake Street to northbound I-294 is scheduled to close. A detour will be posted routing traffic to Railroad Avenue, North Avenue, Mannheim Road and Irving Park where drivers will be able to access northbound I-294. The ramp is scheduled to reopen by 5 a.m. on Tuesday, March 2. Similar closures are also scheduled Tuesday into Wednesday, March 3.
•     On Wednesday, March 3, I-294 in both directions is scheduled to be reduced to a single lane overnight with the first lane closing at 7 p.m. Full roadway closures, each lasting 15 minutes, are scheduled to begin at midnight. All lanes are scheduled to reopen by 5 a.m. on Thursday, March 4. Similar closures are scheduled Thursday into Friday, March 5.
•     On Friday, March 5, I-294 in both directions is scheduled to be reduced to two lanes overnight with the first lane closing at 7 p.m. All lanes are scheduled to reopen by 5 a.m. Similar closures are scheduled nightly over the weekend through 5 a.m. Monday, March 8.
•     During the week of March 8, the ramp connecting eastbound Lake Street to northbound I-294 is scheduled to close for three nights with. A detour will be posted. The ramp will reopen by 5 a.m. each following morning.
•     During the week of March 15, I-294 in both directions is scheduled to be reduced to a single lane overnight, with intermittent 15-minute full closures planned. Two nights of these closures are needed.

All work and schedules are weather dependent and additional overnight closures will be scheduled during March, as needed.

Construction updates, project information, maps and detour information for work that is part of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project are available in the Projects section on the Tollway’s website at www.illinoistollway.com .

Construction in this area is being coordinated with the Illinois Department of Transportation, as well as local fire and police departments.

The Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project is reconstructing and widening the roadway between Balmoral Avenue and 95th Street to provide congestion relief, update old infrastructure to meet current and future transportation demand and address regional needs. This work 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.

Second of three sections of the Montrose Avenue bridge to be removed

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that as part of ongoing efforts to rebuild Montrose Avenue over the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94), weekend lane and ramp closures continue this Friday, Feb. 26. The closures are necessary to safely remove the existing Montrose Avenue bridge over the expressway. The closure, originally scheduled for Jan. 29, was postponed due to inclement weather.

To avoid closing the expressway entirely and to minimize the impact to traffic, the north portion of the bridge will be removed over three weekends. The first segment, over the inbound lanes of the expressway, was removed last month.

Starting at 9 p.m. Friday, weather permitting, the outbound Kennedy approaching Diversey Avenue gradually will be reduced to a single lane, with all traffic diverted into the express lanes by midnight. Outbound Kennedy traffic will continue onto the outbound Edens Expressway and not be able to exit until Foster Avenue. The outbound Edens exit ramp to Wilson Avenue will also be closed.

The outbound Kennedy exit ramp to Montrose Avenue will close at noon Friday, along with the following ramps closing at 9 p.m.
 

•     Entrance ramps - Armitage, Fullerton/Western, California and Kimball avenues, Addison Street and Irving Park Road (IL-19).
•     Exit ramps – Diversey, Kedzie/Belmont, Kimball avenues, Addison Street, Pulaski/Irving Park roads, Kostner and Montrose avenues.

All lanes and ramps will reopen, with the express lanes resuming their normal operations, by 5 a.m. Monday, March 1.

Pedestrians accessing the Chicago Transit Authority’s Blue Line station at Montrose Avenue can expect intermittent 15-minute sidewalk closures between 1 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 27, and noon Sunday, Feb. 28.

Removal of the third and last section of the north portion of the bridge, over the Blue Line station and the express lanes, will be scheduled for early spring.

The overall Montrose Avenue improvements include removing and replacing the existing bridge and approach pavement, upgrading existing lighting and installing lighting under the bridge and over the CTA station. The project is expected to be completed this summer.

While the bridge is being replaced, Montrose Avenue traffic is detoured to Cicero Avenue (I-50), Irving Park Road and Pulaski Road.

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 remain alert for workers and equipment.

Over the next six years, IDOT is planning to improve more than 3,300 miles of highway and 8.4 million square feet of bridge deck as part of the Rebuild Illinois capital program, which is investing in all modes of transportation. Year One included improvements statewide on 1,706 miles of highway, 128 bridges and 228 additional safety improvements.

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.

The Illinois Tollway is scheduled to begin a long-term lane closure next week on Joliet Road under the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) in Indian Head Park as work begins to rebuild the bridge carrying I-294 over Joliet Road. Construction on bridges and ramps in and around the I-55 Interchange is part of the Tollway’s Central Tri-State Tollway Project rebuilding and widening I-294 between Balmoral Avenue and 95th Street.

Electronic message and construction signage will be put in place in advance to alert drivers on Joliet Road and I-294 to the construction work zones and lane closures. All work is weather dependent.

“As part of the Illinois Tollway’s dedication to safety, we are committed to prioritizing the safety of both drivers and workers during construction,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director José Alvarez. “We will make every effort to minimize the impact of construction and ask drivers to please be patient and obey the work zone speed limits.”

Beginning the week of February 15, on Joliet Road traffic will be shifted to the left and reduced to one lane in each direction under I-294. The lane closures are needed to provide a work zone for I-294 bridge construction and safety accommodate traffic while bridge work is underway. Construction along Joliet Road will include work to extend the bridge abutments, storm sewer relocation and pavement work.

The closures on Joliet Road are scheduled to remain in place through March, when the Illinois Department of Transportation is scheduled to begin work on an adjacent project. Additional closures on Joliet Road will be scheduled throughout project as needed.

In 2021, the Tollway’s work in the I-55 Interchange area will begin to accommodate the rebuilding and widening of I-294 between 75th Street and I-55. As part of this work, the ramp connecting I-55 to northbound I-294 will be reconstructed, along with the I-294 bridges over I-55, Wolf Road, Joliet Road and Flagg Creek. Additional work includes the reconstruction of the Plainfield Road Bridge over I-294 and the northbound ramp to the Hinsdale Oasis. Construction in this area is scheduled to be complete in 2025.

Local road closures in this area are being coordinated with the Illinois Department of Transportation, Cook Country Department of Transportation and Highways and the Village of Indian Head Park, as well as local fire and police departments.

The Illinois Tollway reconstruction of ramps and bridges in the I-55 Interchange area are necessary to accommodate the rebuilding and widening of I-294, as well as to reduce congestion, improve safety and address operational issues as well as infrastructure conditions.

The Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project is reconstructing and widening the roadway between Balmoral Avenue and 95th Street to provide congestion relief, update old infrastructure to meet current and future transportation demand and address regional needs. This work 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.

Information about the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project is available on the Tollway’s website at www.illinoistollway.com in the Projects section.

Effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday, January 28, 2021, all but one of Wisconsin’s regions will be under the frozen road declaration, which allows heavier loads for trucks hauling logs or winter maintenance salt and sand.

Effective January 9, 2021, at 12:01 a.m., Wisconsin's frozen road declaration will expand to include regions designated by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) as Zone 2 (View map: https://wisdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=2e56b5b256124198b0be2c4815c42a18.) It means that effective Saturday, the frozen road law will apply to roughly the northern half of Wisconsin. The frozen road determination for the southern portion of the state will be made once conditions warrant.

The frozen road law allows heavier loads for trucks carrying logs cut crosswise (not including woodchips), and salt and sand for winter maintenance while cold weather allows.

WisDOT and county highway personnel monitor temperature forecasts, along with frost tubes -- liquid-filled devices under pavement -- to help determine when roads are adequately frozen to accommodate heavier loads. This video shows how WisDOT monitors field conditions to verify frost depths: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGvOoYYKAS0

The declaration is issued once the ground under highway pavement is frozen to a depth of at least 18 inches, allowing the maximum gross weight for trucks hauling logs or salt and sand for maintaining roads in winter to go up to 98,000 pounds on vehicles with a minimum of five axles (from the normal 80,000 pounds). Special permits for hauling the increased weights are not required in the declared zones, but vehicles must be legally licensed at 80,000 pounds to handle the increased weights. The higher weight limits do not apply to county or local roads unless authorized by the local agency having maintenance authority. Also, higher weights may not be transported on any highways or bridges specifically posted for lower weight limits.

The “Motor carrier/trucker” section of the WisDOT website contains comprehensive information impacting commercial motor vehicle operators including weight restriction programs and frozen road declaration. Customers can also check a recorded message on the Frozen Road Hotline at (608) 266-8417. Haulers with specific questions can contact WisDOT’s Oversize/Overweight Permits Unit at (608) 266-7320.

2/5/21 ****UPDATE: The inbound Ryan to the inbound Ida B. Wells ramp will remain closed, weather permitting, until late February/early March due to additional needed work and inclement weather.

A detour continues to direct inbound Ryan motorists to use the Roosevelt Road exit ramp to access Ida B. Wells via Roosevelt Road and State Street

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that as part of the ongoing Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction, the ramp from the inbound Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) to inbound Ida B. Wells Drive will close for approximately one week starting, weather permitting, at 1 a.m. Thursday, Jan.14.