The Illinois Tollway has begun work to reconstruct three ramps connecting the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and O’Hare International Airport in 2015 as part of the $2.5 billion I-90 Rebuilding and Widening Project.
The ramps connecting eastbound I-90 to northbound and southbound I-294 and the ramp connecting eastbound I-90 to O’Hare Airport are being reconstructed, with work scheduled to be complete by the end of the year.
All ramps will remain open throughout reconstruction using traffic shifts to accommodate a work zone. Electronic message signs and construction signage will be put in place in advance to alert drivers to traffic shifts and work zones throughout construction.
Temporary pavement is being constructed in each location to keep the ramps open during reconstruction. Once the temporary pavement is in place, traffic will be shifted to the left to provide work zones with half the width of each ramp being reconstructed at a time. When work on the first half of the ramps is completed mid-summer, traffic will be shifted to the right with a work zone on the left to complete the reconstruction.
The Tollway is coordinating work on the ramps with the Federal Aviation Administration, O’Hare International Airport, the village of Rosemont and the Illinois Department of Transportation, as well as local police and fire departments.
The three ramps are part of the larger complicated interchange that connects I-294 to I-90 constructed as part of the original Tollway system in the 1950s.
Each of the three ramps have undergone previous repairs to keep the ramps in safe, working order, and this year’s reconstruction will to extend the life of the ramps to provide convenient travel for Tollway customers. Improvements in 2015 include removing the existing ramp pavement and replacing it with new concrete pavement and removing and replacing the existing shoulders with asphalt. Other improvements include new guardrail, roadway lighting and drainage systems.
Improvements of this interchange already completed include the replacement of the following ramps: northbound I-294 to westbound I-190 and River Road, northbound I-294 to the eastbound Kennedy Expressway (I-90) and westbound Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) in 2013, as well as the reconstruction of the Tri-Level Bridge ramps in 2011-2012. The ramps from westbound I-190 to southbound I-294 and eastbound I-190 to northbound I-294 were rehabilitated in 2008.
Work Zone Safety
A 45 mph work zone speed limit is in effect on I-90 and the ramps connecting I-90, I-294 and O’Hare Airport. 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.
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 a 14-year jail sentence for hitting a roadway worker.
I-90 Rebuilding and Widening Project
The $2.5 billion Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) Rebuilding and Widening Project will deliver a 21st century corridor linking Rockford to O’Hare International Airport. The I-90 corridor from downtown Chicago to Rockford serves nearly one million travelers per day. The project encompasses 62 mi. (99.8 km) and features six reconstructed and expanded lanes from Randall Road to I-39 near Rockford completed in 2014 and reconstruction and expansion to eight lanes from the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to Randall Road in Elgin to be completed in 2016. The new I-90 will also feature significant improvements to seven interchanges and bus on shoulder service along the eastern segment in partnership with Pace. In addition, the new I-90 includes flexible infrastructure to enable the Tollway to add new “smart” features and future transit expansion for the first time in the agency’s history.
The I-90 Rebuilding and Widening Project is funded by the Illinois Tollway’s 15-year, $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. The I-90 bridges were constructed as part of the original Tollway system in the 1950s.
Getting Tollway
Construction
Information
The Illinois Tollway has a variety of ways customers can get the latest travel information, including:
• www.illinoistollway.com — Construction/Planning section, Tollway Trip Calculator, live roadway images and real-time roadway incident information
• 1-800-TOLL-FYI —Daily lane closure information
• www.travelmidwest.com — Real-time travel times
• www.twitter.com — Real-time roadway incident information at Tollway Trip 90, Tollway Trip 88, Tollway Trip 355 and Tollway Trip 94/294
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