An extended closure of the ramp connecting westbound Interstate 88 to southbound Farnsworth Avenue in the Aurora area is scheduled to begin Wednesday as toll plaza improvement work continues at the Farnsworth Avenue interchange, officials said.
A detour will be posted, according to an Illinois Tollway press release.
Electronic message signs and construction signage will be in place in advance to alert drivers to construction and any ramp closures and detours, officials said.
On Wednesday, a full closure of the ramp connecting westbound I-88 to southbound Farnsworth Avenue is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., the release said. The closure is scheduled to last through Friday, June 19, with the ramp reopening by 11 a.m. Once the ramp reopens, traffic lane widths will be reduced, officials said.
The extended ramp closure and detour are needed to accommodate removal of the existing curb and gutter and to place temporary pavement and a barrier wall, according to officials. The ramp is too narrow to accommodate the work with traffic shifts, the release said.
During the closure, a detour will be posted in advance of Farnsworth Avenue directing I-88 traffic to exit at Eola Road and Bilter Road to access Farnsworth Avenue, according to the release.
The toll plaza improvement work is also underway on the ramps connecting westbound I-88 to northbound Farnsworth Avenue and northbound Farnsworth Avenue to eastbound I-88, officials said. Toll plazas at the interchange are being reconstructed using staged construction and extended long-term detours.
Work on the Farnsworth Avenue interchange is scheduled to be completed in 2027, the release said. Construction work includes the removal of the existing barrier walls and equipment, installation of new tolling infrastructure and ramp pavement, as well as guardrail, electrical and signage improvements.
Closures and detours are being coordinated with the Illinois Department of Transportation, DuPage County, Kane County and Aurora Township, as well as local fire and police departments.
Maps and construction information on the Farnsworth Avenue interchange work are available in the projects section on the Illinois Tollway’s website at illinoistollway.com.
