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Overnight Closures Scheduled on Tri-State Tollway (I-294) for St. Charles Road Interchange Improvements

DOWNERS GROVE, IL – Temporary, overnight lane closures are scheduled to begin next week on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) between Franklin Avenue and Electric Avenue for bridge beam placement at the St. Charles Road Bridge over I-294. This work is part of the Illinois Tollway’s work to improve the I-290/I-88 Interchange at I-294 on the Central Tri-State Tollway.

Up to six nights of lane closures will be needed in both directions on I-294. Bridge beam installation is scheduled during overnight hours to provide a safe work zone and reduce the disruption to daily drivers. Electronic message signs and construction signage will be put in place in advance to alert drivers to the overnight lane closures. Up-to-date closure information will be available on the Illinois Tollway’s Daily Construction Alert. All work is weather dependent.

On Monday, December 6, lane closures in both directions on I-294 will begin at 7 p.m. with a single lane closure in the southbound direction and a double lane closure in the northbound direction. Additional lane closures will include closure of a second southbound lane at 9 p.m. and closure of a third lane in both directions at 11 p.m. Intermittent, full closures each lasting 15 minutes on northbound I-294 are scheduled to begin at 11:30 p.m. All lanes are scheduled to reopen by 6 a.m. on Tuesday, December 7. Similar overnight closures will be scheduled for two additional nights to complete bridge beam installation over northbound I-294.

Once bridge beam placement is complete over northbound I-294 lanes, overnight closures will be needed for bridge beam placement over the southbound side of I-294. Lane closures will be scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. on southbound I-294 with a single lane closure followed by a second lane closure at 10 p.m. and closure of a third lane at 11 p.m. Intermittent, full closures of southbound I-294, each lasting 15 minutes, are scheduled to begin at midnight. All lanes are scheduled to reopen by 5 a.m. the following morning. Similar overnight closures will be scheduled for two additional nights to complete bridge beam installation.

In 2021 and 2022, the Illinois Tollway will be reconstructing the St. Charles Road Interchange at I-290. This work includes removing and replacing the St. Charles Road Bridge over I-294 and repairing and replacing the bridge deck on the bridge over I-290. In addition, the four interchange ramps on the east side of I-290 will be reconstructed and a portion of westbound I-290 will be widened. Additional work includes retaining wall construction, drainage improvements and roadway lighting improvements.

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

The Illinois Tollway’s Central Tri-State Tollway Project includes the reconstruction of the I-290/I-88 Interchange at I-294 to reduce congestion, improve safety and address operational issues as well as infrastructure conditions.

The $4 billion Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project is reconstructing and widening the roadway between Balmoral Avenue and 95^th 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, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. More than 220,000 vehicles use the Central Tri-State Tollway daily.

Information including maps, construction updates and a Virtual Open House is available on the Tollway’s website at www.illinoistollway.com in the Projects section.

Work Zone 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. On St. Charles Road, a 30 mph work zone speed limit is in effect.

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 $250 with up to a $25,000 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 nine years of Move Illinois is on schedule and within budget, delivering the rebuilt and widened Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) as a state-of-the-art 21^st century corridor and 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 Elgin O’Hare Western Access Project and reconstruction of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294).

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.

12/3/2021 3:02 PM (Updated 12/3/2021 3:02 PM)

Weekend ramp, lane closures on Eastbound I-80 in Joliet

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that emergency repairs and pavement patching on eastbound Interstate 80, in Joliet, will require closures beginning, weather permitting, tonight, Friday, Dec. 3. Major travel delays are anticipated, alternative routes are encouraged.

Starting at 10 p.m. tonight, lane closures will take place on eastbound I-80, between Wheeler and Rowell avenues. Additionally, the entrance ramp from Chicago Street (U.S.52/Illinois 53) to eastbound I-80 to will be closed. During that time, a detour will direct motorists to U.S. 52 and Richards Street to access the expressway. At least one eastbound lane will remain open at all times and westbound I-80 will not be impacted. All lanes and ramps are anticipated to reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 6.

12/3/2021 12:16 PM (Updated 12/3/2021 12:16 PM)

Traffic Shifts Scheduled at Tri-State Tollway I-294/I-57 Interchange Project

Winter construction will continue on bridge piers, abutments as weather allows

DOWNERS GROVE, IL – The Illinois Tollway is preparing to begin shifting traffic next week to move the Tri-State Tollway (I-294)/I-57 Project into winter configuration with construction work scheduled to continue as weather allows.

“The Illinois Tollway is committed to ensuring the roadway remains safe for both drivers and workers during construction, which is part of our overall commitment to roadway safety,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director José Alvarez. “We ask drivers to be attentive in work zones by watching for changing traffic patterns and using caution, especially when workers are present, as we prepare for the winter season.”

Winter traffic configurations are scheduled to be in place next week on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and by December 15 on I-57. Electronic message signs and construction signage will be put in place in advance to alert drivers to changes in traffic patterns. Up-to-date information regarding closures will be available in the Illinois Tollway’s Daily Construction Alert. All work is weather dependent.

On Monday, December 6, on southbound I-294 all lanes are scheduled to reopen to traffic. Northbound I-294 traffic is already in its normal configuration.

Overnight Wednesday, December 8, on northbound I-57 traffic will be reduced to a single lane and the two ramps connecting northbound I-57 to 147th Street will be closed in order to shift traffic. All lanes and ramps are scheduled to reopen by 5 a.m. on Thursday, December 9, in advance of morning rush hour.

During the week of December 13, on southbound I-57 traffic is scheduled to return to its normal configuration. In addition, a portion of the newly constructed collector-distributor road is scheduled to open to allow access to the ramps to 147th Street.

During the winter months, construction will continue on the I-294/I-57 Interchange Project as weather permits. Work will continue on the median barrier wall on I-57 with shoulder closures and the ramp connecting southbound I-294 to southbound I-57 will remain reduced to a single lane to accommodate the ongoing construction. In addition, bridge work is scheduled to continue on the southbound I-57 to southbound I-294 ramp bridge, as well as on I-57 over the CSX Railroad. On I-294, the outside shoulder is scheduled to remain closed through winter for roadway signage, lighting and utility work.

This work is part of the second phase of the I-294/I-57 Interchange Project, which is building four new ramps to connect southbound I-57 to I-294 and I-294 to northbound I-57, including the flyover ramp bridge. The flyover ramp bridge will carry traffic from southbound I-57 to southbound I-294 and from 147th to southbound I-57. The multi-span structure will be 2,649 feet long with a bridge deck approximately 16 feet above I-294 and 17 feet above I-57. Interchange construction is scheduled to continue into 2022.

Additional work on this project includes the reconstruction of the I-57 median and the widening of the I-57 mainline, as well as drainage improvements, erosion and sediment control, retaining wall and bridge construction.

Maps and construction information about the Tri-State Tollway (I-294)/I-57 Interchange Project is available in the Project’s section on the Tollway’s website at www.illinoistollway.com.

The $719 million I-294/I-57 Interchange Project is funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Tollway’s 15-year, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future.

The new interchange is improving travel by providing customers with completed access between the two interstates. For the first time, the new I-294/I-57 Interchange provides motorists with access between I-294 and I-57, including a new interchange at 147th Street. The complete interchange will reduce congestion on local routes, enhance economic development and improve regional mobility. The all-electronic interstate-to-interstate connection better serves commuters and freight operators while opening access for local communities.