The Illinois Tollway will begin
the process of returning traffic to the newly constructed eastbound side of the
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) between Rockford and Elgin next week
as the first phase of the $2.2 billion I-90 Rebuilding and Widening Project
nears completion for this construction season. In addition, eastbound traffic
will be shifted Sunday night at the Marengo Toll Plaza on I-90 requiring a
temporary reduction in the number of open road tolling lanes.
Eastbound traffic between I-39 in
Rockford and the Elgin Toll Plaza has been traveling on the westbound side of
the road since spring to accommodate the rebuilding and widening of the
eastbound lanes. The westbound lanes in this segment are scheduled to be
rebuilt and widened in 2014, and work on the segment of I-90 from Elgin to
Chicago is scheduled for 2014-2016.
“We’ve made tremendous progress this
construction season, and we’re pleased to report that we’re on schedule to
complete the western section of I-90 next year,” said Illinois Tollway
Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “This return to normal traffic patterns
allows us to prepare for the winter break in construction.”
Traffic shifts will be scheduled
throughout October on I-90 to return traffic to the eastbound side in remaining
sections between Rockford and Elgin. Once completed, traffic will remain in
this configuration over the winter, however, work will continue in the median
to prepare for the rebuilding and widening of the westbound lanes in 2014.
I-90 Mainline Traffic Shifts
Next week, traffic shifts are
scheduled in a 7-mile section near Elgin and a 5-mile section near Belvidere,
as well as at the Marengo Toll Plaza. Eastbound I-90 traffic will be shifted
from the westbound side of the road onto new pavement on the eastbound lanes
with a full right shoulder.
On the east end near Elgin, two lanes
of traffic will be moved back onto the eastbound side between
Brier Hill Road and the Union Pacific
Railroad overpass near Elgin. On the west end of the project near
Belvidere, two lanes of traffic will be
moved back onto the eastbound side between the Union Pacific Railroad underpass
and Tripp Road.
Work to shift mainline traffic is
scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Monday, October 7, in both sections, reducing
traffic to a single lane overnight. The lane reduction and traffic shifts will
be completed by 5 a.m. on Tuesday, October 8, in advance of the morning rush
hour.
Marengo Toll Plaza Traffic Shift
Eastbound traffic will also be shifted
next week at the Marengo Toll Plaza, requiring a temporary reduction in the
number of open road tolling lanes. The eight-week closure is necessary as work
continues to rebuild and widen the eastbound lanes between Rockford and Elgin.
At 10 p.m. on Sunday, October 6, one
open road tolling lane will close for the traffic shift. When work is completed
by 6 a.m. on Monday, October 7, eastbound traffic at the Marengo Toll Plaza
will be shifted to the right and one of two open road tolling lanes will be
closed for eight weeks to provide a work zone so the left shoulder and left
lane can be rebuilt.
During this time, one open road
tolling lane will remain open and a temporary I-PASS Only lane will be
available on the cash collection side of the toll plaza to provide an
additional non-stop option for I-PASS customers. In addition, two cash lanes
with toll collectors will remain in place and all lanes will accept IPASS.
Some delays are expected during peak
hours and drivers are encouraged to use the I-PASS Only lane on the cash side
of the plaza when traffic is heavy. In addition, depending on the destination,
traffic travelling east toward Chicago and O’Hare International Airport can use
I-39 to the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) as an alternate route.
Once the work on the left side of the
eastbound lanes at the Marengo Toll Plaza is complete, two open road tolling
lanes will be restored and construction will continue with work to rebuild the
right shoulder and lane.
Work to rebuild and widen the
eastbound lanes between Rockford and Elgin began this spring and will be
completed by the end of the year, with the westbound lanes scheduled to be
rebuilt and widened in
2014. Work to rebuild and widen the
eastern section of I-90 is scheduled for 2014-2016.
When complete, I-90 will be a 21st
century, state-of-the-art corridor linking Rockford to O'Hare Airport. The
improved roadway will accommodate as many as 30,000 more vehicles per day and
will save drivers $440 million annually due to reduced congestion and delays.
The I‐90 corridor from Chicago to Rockford serves nearly 1
million travelers per day.
Work Zone Safety
A 45 mph speed limit is in effect 24/7
in all construction zones on I-90, whether or not workers are present. Drivers
should continue to watch for changing traffic patterns and use caution at all
times.
Illinois State Police have zero
tolerance for drivers speeding in work zones. The minimum penalty for speeding
in a work zone is $375. Posted signs advise drivers of a $10,000 fine and
14-year jail sentence for hitting a roadway worker.
Getting Tollway Construction
Information
The Illinois Tollway has a
variety of ways customers can get the latest travel information, including:
· www.illinoistollway.com
– Construction/Planning section and Tollway Trip Calculator
·
1-800-TOLL-FYI – Daily lane closure
information
· www.travelmidwest.com
– Real-time travel times
· www.nbcchicago.com
– Up-to-the-minute traffic by roadway
· www.myfoxchicago.com
– Latest traffic conditions
· www.twitter.com
– Real-time roadway incident information at Tollway Trip 90, Tollway
Trip 88, Tollway Trip 355 and Tollway Trip 94/294
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