Illinois Tollway Expects 7 Million Vehicles on the Roads This Weekend

The good news is the Illinois Tollway is restricting construction activity this Memorial Day weekend. The bad news the roads will be jam packed with about 7 million motorists.

The Tollway expects approximately 7 million vehicles will travel the Tollway system this Memorial Day holiday beginning today through Tuesday and is reminding customers to drive safely when traveling in construction work zones throughout the Illinois Tollway system.

The Tollway expects the heaviest travel on Friday when nearly 1.6 million vehicles are projected to be on the road. On an average day, about 1.4 million vehicles use the Tollway. The Tollway is restricting construction activity and suspending all temporary construction lane closures over the holiday weekend to better serve its customers.

“While there is a lot of construction activity happening on the Illinois Tollway this summer as part of our new Move Illinois capital program, we’ve made every effort to limit the impact of this work on our customers,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur.  “There will be more vehicles on our roadways this Memorial Day weekend than average, so we remind customers to stay alert, obey the posted speed limit and avoid distractions while behind the wheel.”

Illinois’ distracted driving law prohibits drivers from using hand-held wireless telephones while operating a vehicle in a construction work zone. In addition, state law prohibits drivers from using electronic devices to text, email or access Internet sites while driving a vehicle at any time.

The Illinois Tollway reminds customers on the road this Memorial Day holiday to “Drive Now. Text Later.”  Drivers should pull over to a safe location or visit a Tollway Oasis, where they can take a break, access free Wi-Fi, get something to eat and drink, fill their gas tanks and stretch their legs before getting back on the road.

Tollway Construction Zones

While the Tollway is restricing construction actiitye, some work may continue behind barriores to keep work on scheduled but the work should not impact traffic.

Major construction areas where drivers should plan for slower traffic during the holiday include:

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90)

    * Between the South Beloit Toll Plaza and Rockton Road, traffic is reduced to two lanes in each direction for an IDOT project between Rockton Road and the state line.  

Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80)

    * Tri-Level Bridge ramps carrying northbound I-294 traffic to westbound I-90 and eastbound I-190 to westbound I-90 are closed for bridge reconstruction work. Traffic is detoured north through the cash side of the Touhy Toll Plaza, exit at Touhy west, turn right at River Road and re-enter I-294 southbound to reach westbound I-90.  Drivers will not be double tolled.

    * Between Half Day Road and Lake Cook Road, traffic is shifted to the left in both directions for pavement rehabilitation work.

    * Between 95th Street and Balmoral Avenue, traffic shifts and shoulder closures are in place for pavement repairs and resurfacing.  Traffic splits are also in place over the Mile Long Bridge and the bridges at 87th Street and Roberts Road for bridge repairs.

    * Between I-57 and Kedzie Avenue, I-294 traffic in both directions is reduced to three lanes for the reconstruction of the I-294 bridges over 147th Street. 

Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) 

    * Between Illinois Route 56 and Blackberry Creek, traffic is shifted to the right in both directions for pavement repairs and resurfacing.

    * Between Annie Glidden Road and the DeKalb Toll Plaza and between Locust Road and Illinois Route 251, traffic is reduced to one lane in both directions for pavement repairs and resurfacing.

 A 45 mph speed limit is in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week in all construction zones, whether or not workers are present. The minimum penalty for speeding in a work zone is $375.

Getting Tollway Construction Information

The Tollway offers a variety of ways for drivers to get the latest information, including:

    * www.illinoistollway.com – Construction/Planning Section – for details by road

    * 1-800-TOLL-FYI – Daily lane closure information

    * www.travelmidwest.com – Real-time travel times

   * eNewsletter – www.illinoistollway.com