Construction Alert: New Lane Configurations on I-90

Drivers should be alert for changes in traffic patterns on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) as crews continue creating a work zone for the rebuilding and widening of eastbound lanes.

“This traffic shift will enable us to move this $2.2 billion project into high gear so that we can complete the rebuilding and widening of the west section of I-90 next year,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “We will make every effort to minimize the impact of construction on our customers and ask drivers to please be patient and obey the work zone speed limits.”

As part of the I-90 Rebuilding and Widening Project, the eastbound lanes between I-39 in Rockford and the Elgin Toll Plaza will be rebuilt and a new lane added to provide three lanes in each direction, Illinois Tollway officials said.

In addition, the inside lane and shoulder in both directions will be widened to provide accommodations for future transit opportunities. The eastbound lanes are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year and the westbound lanes are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2014.

Work to shift traffic began overnight last week. All traffic between I-39 and the Elgin Toll Plaza is expected to be on the westbound side of the roadway by Thursday, April 18.  Traffic is scheduled to remain in this configuration until this fall.

Whenever possible, the Tollway uses traffic shifts and shoulders to keep as many lanes open during peak hours as were available before construction. Two lanes of traffic in both directions will be maintained during construction by shifting all traffic onto the westbound side of the road while the eastbound lanes are rebuilt and widened.

However, westbound traffic between Irene Road near Belvidere and I-39 is currently reduced to one lane and an alternate route is posted to offer drivers the option to travel west via U.S. Route 20 to reach I-90 and I-39.

During construction, drivers will have access to all Tollway entrance and exit ramps, including Randall Road, Illinois Route 47, U.S. Route 20, Genoa Road, Irene Road and I-39, as well as the Belvidere Oasis.  In addition, crossovers will be in place to allow eastbound traffic to access the interchanges through the work zone, as well as at mainline bridges under construction.

At the Marengo Toll Plaza, eastbound traffic will be routed over to the eastbound lanes for toll collection and then back to the westbound side of the roadway to continue traveling through the construction zone. And, at the Elgin Toll Plaza, drivers paying cash will be required to use the right lane to reach the cash side of the plaza. All traffic in the left lane will be routed through the open road tolling lanes.

Rebuilding and widening the 54-year-old Jane Addams Memorial Tollway from the Kennedy Expressway to I-39 in Rockford is part of the 15-year, $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. When complete, I-90 will be a 21st century, state-of-the-art corridor linking Rockford to O’Hare Airport with eight lanes from the Kennedy Expressway to the Elgin Toll Plaza and six lanes from the Elgin Toll Plaza to I-39.