Chicago area and statewide transportation agencies on Thursday unveiled construction plans, foreshadowing headaches for motorists who will travel through road repairs and reconstruction projects this spring and summer.
“As the old saying goes, there are two seasons in Chicago: winter and construction,” said Kermit Wies, acting deputy planning director for the Chicago Area Transportation Study.
A total of $486 million in road improvement projects within the six Chicago-area counties will begin in March, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced.
Drivers can expect nighttime lane closures and closed road shoulders as crews add lanes, replace bridges and add retaining walls along parts of Interstate Highways 80, 94 and 294.
About $20 million will be spent to add lights and surveillance cameras along the Dan Ryan Expressway from 31st Street to Interstate Highway 57. The project is scheduled to be finished by December 2007.
“Contrary to popular belief, we do resurface our state system,” said Patrick Pechnick, an engineer with IDOT.
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Make plans, road construction under way
On Thursday, Illinois tollway and Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), among other transportation agencies, unveiled plans to improve the area’s roads.
Illinois tollway improvements
Construction
I-294/80
Improvement: Rebuild, additional lane
Location: Ill. Hwy. 394 to 167th, 167th to 95th
Duration: Feb./Mar. 2005-2006
Cost: $669.4 million
I-88 RONALD REAGAN MEMORIAL TOLLWAY
Improvement: Rebuild, additional lane
Location: Ill. Hwy. 59 to Naperville Rd.
Duration: 2004-2005
Cost: $55.2 million
I-355 NORTH-SOUTH TOLLWAY
Improvement: Construct 12.5 mile extension
Location: I-55 Stevenson Expressway to I-80
Duration: 2004-2007
Cost: $730 million
TOLL PLAZAS CONVERTING TO OPEN ROAD TOLLING
Improvement: Convert 20 mainline
toll plazas to Open Road Tolling*
Location: I-55 Stevenson Expressway to I-80
Duration: 2005-2006
Cost: $364 million
TOLLWAY OASIS IMPROVEMENTS
State highway improvements
Construction
I-94/I- 394/BISHOP FORD
FREEWAY: Rebuild, widen, bridge construction and retaining walls
Location: South of 159th to south of
Thornton-Lansing Rd.
Duration: Mar. 5-Oct 30, 2005
I-190: Bridge replacement
Location: Mannheim Rd.
Duration: Apr. 1-Nov. 15, 2005
I-90/94 DAN RYAN EXPWY.: Lighting and surveillance
Location: 31st St. to I-57
Duration: Ending Dec. 31, 2007
I-80: Bridge and interchange construction, and lighting
Location: I-55
Duration: Ending Jun. 17, 2006
I-90 KENNEDY EXPWY.: Bridge construction, traffic signals and retaining walls
Location: Nagle Ave.
Duration: May 1-Oct. 31, 2005
ILL. HWY. 22/LAKE ZURICH RD.: Railroad crossing, traffic signals, retaining walls and additional lanes
Location: West of Rand Rd. to Quentin Rd.
Duration: Apr. 1, 2005-Oct. 1, 2006
PALATINE RD.: Resurfacing
Location: Cedar St. to Milwaukee Ave.
Duration: May 2-Oct. 31, 2005
I-290/ILL. HWY. 53: Highway lighting
Location: Algonquin Rd. to Higgins Rd.
Duration: Not yet determined
PALATINE RD. BRIDGES: Bridge replacement
Location: Ill. Hwy. 83, U.S. Hwy. 45/Milwaukee Ave., Wisconsin-Central Railroad, E. and W. Frontage Rd., Wolf Rd. and Des Plaines River
Duration: May 2-Nov. 18, 2005
U.S. HWY. 20/LAKE ST.: Reconstruction, traffic signal, lighting, sidewalks and new culvert
Location: East of Rohlwing Rd. to east of Addison Rd.
Duration: Sept. 1, 2005 -Oct. 31, 2006
U.S. HWY. 30 LINCOLN HWY./PLAINFIELD RD.: Bridge replacement, retaining walls and intersection
Location: Over Lily Cache Rd. and over Lily Cache Creek
Duration: Sept. 1, 2005-Oct. 30, 2006
U.S. HWY. 30 LINCOLN HWY.: Reconstruction, adding lanes, resurfacing and lighting
Location: Statesville Rd./Essington
Rd. to Larkin Ave.
Duration: Sept. 1, 2005-Oct. 31, 2007
ILL. HWY. 56/BUTTERFIELD RD.: Additional lanes and lighting
Location: West of Summit Rd. to
Ill. Hwy. 83
Duration: Sept. 1, 2005-Oct. 31, 2006
MAPLE AVE./CHICAGO AVE.:
Reconstruction and lighting
Location: Cumnor Rd. to Kingerly Highway
Duration: Sept. 1, 2005-Oct. 31, 2006
*Open Road Tolling: Lanes that allow I-PASS customers to drive through at speeds of up to 55 m.p.h.
Sources: Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, IDOT, ESRI, GDT
Chicago Tribune
