Travel Midwest High Priority Announcements

 

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that a rehabilitation of the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90/94), from the Edens Expressway (Interstate 94) junction to Ohio Street, is scheduled to begin, weather permitting, Monday, March 20. Major travel delays are anticipated, alternative routes are strongly encouraged.

 

The estimated $150 million project consists of rehabilitating 36 bridge structures and the Reversible Lane Access Control (REVLAC) system, replacing overhead sign-structures, installing new signage and modernized LED lights, pavement patching and structural painting. Additionally, Hubbard’s Cave, from Grand Avenue to Wayman Street, will be painted and new LED lighting installed.

 

The work will take place over three consecutive construction seasons, broken down into the following three stages:

 

 

To help minimize the impact to traffic the reversible express lanes will remain open in the inbound direction, while two mainline inbound lanes will be closed at a time. Motorists should expect lane shifts and overnight lane closure, along with various ramp closures. Later this summer, painting and the installation of new LED lighting will begin on inbound Hubbard’s Cave, between Ohio and Lake streets. Construction is anticipated to be completed later this fall, with all lanes and ramps reopening and the express lanes resuming normal operations.

 

 

The reversible express lanes will be closed to accommodate rehabilitation of the REVLAC system and bridge structures, along with pavement patching. In addition, mainline lane closures will be needed to accommodate painting and the installation of new LED lighting in both directions of Hubbard’s Cave, between Ohio and Lake streets. Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2024 and be completed in fall 2024.

 

 

The reversible express lanes will remain open in the outbound direction, while two mainline outbound lanes will be closed at a time. Lane shifts and overnight lane closure, along with various ramp closures will be needed to complete the work. Additionally, new LED lighting installation and painting will be completed on outbound Hubbard’s Cave, between Ohio and Lake streets. Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2025 and be completed in late fall 2025.

 

Motorists should expect significant delays and 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 be on the alert for workers and equipment. Public transportation and traveling during non-peak hours are recommended if possible.

 

The Kennedy Expressway officially opened in November 1960, with the last major rehabilitation completed in 1994. The project will improve safety, traffic flow and reliability for the more than 275,000 motorists who use the expressway each day.

 

Statewide, over the next six years, IDOT is planning to improve more than 2,500 miles of roads and nearly 10 million square feet of bridges as part of Rebuild Illinois, which is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation. Accomplishments through Year Three of Rebuild Illinois included approximately $8.6 billion of improvements statewide on 4,422 miles of highway, 412 bridges and 621 safety improvements.

 

For more information on this project, visit https://idot.illinois.gov/projects/Interstate-90-Kennedy-Bridge-Study. The website features project details, maps, photos and fact sheets. The public can email questions to DOT.KennedyRehab@illinois.gov. For systemwide traffic and road conditions, visit www.gettingaroundillinois.com. You also can follow IDOT on Facebook and Twitter.

DOWNERS GROVE, IL – Temporary, overnight lane closures are scheduled next week on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) south of Ogden Avenue for work to remove the old I-294 Pedestrian Bridge in Hinsdale and Western Springs. 

 

The pedestrian bridge located near Ogden Avenue closed in January to pedestrian traffic and the new I-294 Pedestrian Bridge constructed adjacent to 47th Street opened for use in fall 2022. 

 

Lane closures on I-294 will be necessary to safely accommodate a work zone for bridge removal. The work will be scheduled during overnight hours to minimize the impact on drivers. Up-to-date closure information will be posted on the Tollway website in the Daily Construction Alert. All work is weather dependent.

 

Beginning Monday, February 13, up to six nights of lane closures will be scheduled on I-294, reducing traffic to a single lane to begin pedestrian bridge removal. Overnight work will be done in one direction of I-294 at time, with one lane closing at 8 p.m., a second lane closing at 9 p.m. and a third lane closing at 11 p.m. All lanes are scheduled to reopen by 5 a.m. the following morning. 

 

During the week of February 20, up to two nights of additional lane closures will be scheduled on I-294 in one direction at a time, including intermittent full roadway closures, to remove the over-the-road structure. Each night, traffic in one direction will be reduced to a single lane by 11 p.m. with intermittent full stops anticipated to begin at 11:30 p.m. All lanes will be open to traffic by 5 a.m. the following morning. 

 

Additional work to remove existing pedestrian bridge structure has been completed in areas adjacent to the Tollway, including the removal of railings, pathways and concrete and installation of fencing. Restoration of the area with topsoil and seeding is scheduled to be completed in the spring. Access to local roads will be required and coordinated with the Villages of Hinsdale and Western Springs accordingly. 

 

The Illinois Tollway has coordinated with the Village of Hinsdale, the Village of Western Springs and the Western Springs Park District to relocate the pedestrian bridge adjacent to 47th Street over the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to maintain a convenient connection between parks and two communities for pedestrians and bicyclists. 

 

Selection of the new location connecting Spring Rock Park in Western Springs to Veeck Park in Hinsdale and was a collaboration between the Village of Hinsdale, the Village of Western Springs and the Western Springs Park District and included input provided by local area residents. 

 

Relocation of the I-294 Pedestrian Bridge was funded by the Tollway’s Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project, which is reconstructing and widening the roadway from Balmoral Avenue to 95th Street. Project and construction information is available for review on the I-294 Pedestrian Bridge Project page in the Projects section on the Tollway’s website at www.illinoistollway.com.

 

The $4 billion 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, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. More than 220,000 vehicles use the Central Tri-State Tollway daily.

Temporary repairs of the outbound Dan Ryan Expressway (Interstate 90/94) ramp, to the outbound Stevenson Expressway (Interstate 55) is scheduled to begin, weather permitting, Monday, Oct. 3. The repairs will allow one (left lane) of the ramp’s two lanes to reopen to traffic. This work is anticipated to be completed by Sunday, Oct. 9.

 

The initial assessment of the ramp indicates that the steel beams under the right lane of the ramp has extensive damage, which will require a more in-depth inspection and comprehensive repairs. This process is initially estimated to take approximately six to eight months to complete.

 

A detour will direct motorists to exit I-55 (inbound), exit to Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and reenter I-55 outbound.

 

Motorists can expects delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area, be prepared for slow and stopped traffic, and if feasible consider taking alternate routes.

 

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today an emergency closure of the outbound Dan Ryan Expressway (interstate 90/94) ramp to the outbound Stevenson Expressway (Interstate 55) as a result of fire damage earlier this morning. 

 

The department is inspecting the damage and evaluating the necessary repairs. Additional information, including the scope of the repairs and the duration of any long-term closures, will be provided once the inspections are complete.

 

A detour will direct motorists to exit I-55 (inbound), exit to Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and reenter I-55 outbound.

 

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 be on the alert for workers and equipment.

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Tue Mar 21 2023 16:05:07 CDT