Tri-State Tollway Ramp Projects Scheduled to Begin

| June 1, 2013

 

TRI-STATE TOLLWAY (I-94/I-294) RAMP PROJECTS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN

Ramps to be rebuilt at Belvidere Road, Lake Street and I-55

 DOWNERS GROVE, IL – Construction is scheduled to begin next week on ramps at three interchanges on the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294) including Belvidere Road (Illinois Route 120), Lake Street (U.S. Route 20) and I-55. During the week of June 3, drivers will see advance work, including traffic shifts and installation of temporary pavement, to set up work zones to keep ramps open throughout construction.

“The Tri-State Tollway serves thousands of drivers every day and these interchange improvements will ensure drivers continue to have safe, well-maintained ramps to help them get where they need to go,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “We understand that construction is inconvenient, but we’ve committed to keep all of the ramps open throughout the work.”

In 2013, work on the Tri-State Tollway will include rebuilding the four ramps at Belvidere Road, one ramp at Lake Street and eight ramps at the interchange connecting I-294 and I-55. Improvements include reconstructing concrete ramps and asphalt shoulders, as well as upgrading lighting and drainage structures, to extend the life of the ramps and provide safe and convenient travel for Tollway customers. Work is scheduled to begin the week of June 3 at all three interchanges.

I-94 Interchange at Belvidere Road (Illinois Route 120)

The Illinois Tollway is rebuilding all four ramps at the Belvidere Road Interchange in 2013. During the week of June 3 work is scheduled to begin with shoulder closures on the westbound exit ramp to eastbound Belvidere Road and the eastbound entrance ramp from eastbound Belvidere Road to install temporary pavement and prepare for a traffic shift.

Once the temporary pavement is in place, traffic will be shifted to the left to provide a work zone with half the width of the ramp being reconstructed at a time. Work on the first half is expected to be completed in July, at which time traffic will be shifted to the right with a work zone on the left. Work on the two remaining ramps is scheduled to begin later this year. All ramp work is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

The ramps will remain open throughout construction with traffic shifts to provide a work zone. The work will have no impact on traffic along I-94 but will require temporary lane closures on Belvidere Road.

Work at the Belvidere Road Interchange includes rebuilding concrete ramp pavement and asphalt shoulders. Lighting and drainage structures will also be upgraded. As many as 20,000 vehicles use the Belvidere Road Interchange on an average weekday.

I-294 Interchange at Lake Street (U.S. Route 20)

At Lake Street, the Tollway will rebuild the entrance ramp to northbound I-294. Beginning the week of June 3, shoulder closures will be needed to install temporary pavement and shift traffic to the left to provide a work zone on the right with half the width of the ramp being reconstructed at a time.

All construction is scheduled to be completed by the fall. As many as 12,650 vehicles use the ramp on an average weekday.

I-294 Interchange at I-55

Ramp reconstruction is scheduled on the eight ramps that make up the interchange connecting I-294 and I-55. The project includes rebuilding the entrance and exit ramps connecting I-294 with I-55, Joliet Road and Wolf Road, as well as the ramps providing access from northbound I-294 to the Hinsdale Oasis.

During the week of June 3, off-peak ramp lane closures are scheduled for shoulder patching to prepare for a traffic shift. Traffic will be shifted left to provide a work zone on the right on the ramps connecting Wolf Road with I-55 and I-294, the exit ramp from northbound I-294 to northbound I-55 and the entrance ramp from I-55 and Joliet Road to northbound I-294. As the work is completed, traffic will be shifted to the opposite side.

In addition, a temporary ramp from northbound I-294 to the Hinsdale Oasis will be built so that reconstruction of the permanent ramp can begin. Work will require off-peak lane closures on I-294 near the Hinsdale Oasis, but Tollway customers will continue to have full access to the oasis throughout construction.

The ramp work will require shoulder closures and overnight lane closures on I-55. This work is being coordinated with the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Improvements on the interchange connecting I-294 and I-55 include removing the existing pavement and replacing it with new full-depth concrete pavement and new asphalt shoulders. Guardrails and lighting will also be upgraded as part of this project, as well as the median barrier wall and drainage structures on the entrance ramp from I-55 and Joliet Road to northbound I-294.

As many as 80,000 vehicles use these ramps on an average weekday. Construction is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2013

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