AREA ROAD WORK AHEAD

| June 1, 2013

WORK SCHEDULED TO BEGIN FIRST WEEK IN JUNE ON TRI-STATE TOLLWAY (I-294) INTERCHANGE CONNECTING I-90/I-190/O’HARE/RIVER ROAD AND THE KENNEDY EXPRESSWAY

Project will require two weekend closures and detours of I-190/River Road ramps

Construction on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Interchange Ramp Project at I-90/I-190/O’Hare/River Road/Kennedy Expressway is scheduled to begin the first week in June and will include two weekend-long closures and detours for the exit ramps carrying traffic from northbound I-294 to westbound I-190 and to River Road. Electronic message signs and directional signs will be put in place to alert drivers to the closures and detours.

In 2013, the Illinois Tollway will rebuild four exit ramps that carry traffic exiting from northbound I-294 and traveling to the westbound Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), westbound I-190, River Road and the eastbound Kennedy Expressway (I-90). The project includes removing the existing ramp pavement and replacing it with new concrete pavement and removing and replacing the existing shoulders with asphalt.

Beginning the week of June 3, traffic will be reduced to one lane on the ramp from northbound I-294 to westbound I-190 and River Road to provide a work zone. In addition, ramp closures with detours are scheduled for two consecutive weekends – Friday, June 7, to Monday, June 10, and Friday, June 14, to Monday, June 17. A third weekend closure of the ramps may be needed if all work is not completed in the first two weekends

“These ramps are important to traffic traveling to and around O’Hare International Airport, so we’ve scheduled the ramp closures over the weekend to minimize the impact on Tollway customers,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “The work is needed to keep these ramps in safe, working order and extend the life of the interchange.”

Because a portion of the ramps from northbound I-294 to westbound I-190 and to River Road are directly underneath the Chicago Transit Authority’s rail lines and space is limited, full weekend closure of the ramps is necessary.

Ramp Closure Schedules and Detour Route

The ramps from northbound I-294 to westbound I-190 and to River Road are scheduled to close beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday, June 7, and reopen by 5 a.m. on Monday, June 10. The second closure and detour is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. Friday night, June 14, and reopen by 5 a.m. on Monday, June 17.

During the weekend ramp closures, traffic will be directed east onto the Kennedy Expressway (I-90) to Cumberland Avenue north and follow the signs to re-enter I-90 westbound to reach the ramp to I-190 westbound. An alternate route for I-PASS customers traveling to River Road is available via Balmoral Avenue. Tri-State Tollway (I-294) I-190 Ramp Repairs – page 2 – more –

Once the initial weekend ramp closures are complete, all ramps will remain open during the rest of the construction project with lane reductions and traffic shifts to provide a work zone, with half the width of each of the ramps being reconstructed at a time. As many as 16,860 vehicles use the ramps on an average weekday.

The Illinois Tollway is coordinating work on the project with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), O’Hare International Airport and the village of Rosemont. IDOT is scheduled to complete a resurfacing project on the south end of the ramp to I-190 during the Tollway’s weekend ramp closures.

To help direct drivers, the Tollway will provide information cards with detour maps and directions at nearby toll plazas including River Road, Touhy Avenue and Irving Park Road, as well as at the O’Hare Oasis Customer Service Center. Construction project and detour information is also available in the “Projects By Roadway” section in the Construction/Planning section on the Tollway’s website at www.illinoistollway.com.

I-294 Interchange Ramp Project at I-90/I-190/River Road/Kennedy Expressway

In addition to the reconstruction of the ramps from northbound I-294 to westbound I-190 and River Road, the project also includes work on the exit ramps from northbound I-294 to the eastbound Kennedy Expressway (I-90) and westbound Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90). Work will be completed using traffic shifts and off-peak lane closures. The O’Hare East Toll Plaza will remain open for cash and I-PASS customers, but lanes will be shifted.

The ramp reconstruction on the Tri-State Tollway is part of the 15-year, $12 billion capital program,

Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. The $3.9 million project is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2013.

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. A 45 mph speed limit will be in place.

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.

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