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"Easter and Passover are
times everyone wants to spend with family, and we know a lot of
folks will be hitting our roads for a long weekend, despite the high
price of gas," Department of Transportation Secretary Timothy W.
Martin said. "We're opening as many lanes as possible, for the
safety of drivers and workers, and also to make trips as smooth as
possible. It's only early spring, and the cost of gas is high and
rising. Prices are now about 35 cents a gallon higher than the same
time a year ago and are less than 50 cents from topping the
$3-a-gallon mark nationwide. Despite the rising price of fuel, there
are no signs that Americans are driving less. In the first quarter
of the year, gasoline consumption rose 1.05 percent over the first
quarter of 2005.
As families prepare to take their holiday trips, the Illinois
Department of Transportation reminds motorists of the following tips
for fuel efficiency:
-
Make sure your engine
is properly tuned.
-
Check and replace air
filters regularly.
-
Keep tires properly
inflated.
-
Use the recommended
grade of motor oil.
-
Do not exceed the
posted speed limit.
"Gas price have risen significantly in the past month, and one of
the main reasons is that crude oil is nearing $70 per barrel," said
AAA spokeswoman Nicole Miemi. "Oil is in high worldwide demand right
now. Illinois has changed to a reformulated brand of gas for the
summer -- it burns cleaner and is safer for the environment -- which
has made costs rise. We have seen trends that show people will most
likely still drive Easter weekend. The monetary impacts of prices
are not significant enough to make people cancel their holiday
plans."
The Department of Transportation also reminds holiday travelers
that highway construction work will be suspended wherever possible
to ease traffic congestion and make holiday travel easier for
Illinois motorists during the Easter holiday.
In the greater Chicago area, all lanes on the Edens, Eisenhower,
Kennedy, Stevenson, Dan Ryan and Bishop Ford expressways, as well as
interstates 80 and 57, will be open.
Motorists are advised to check
www.illinoisroads.info
for information regarding road conditions and updates on road
construction. Interstate road condition information is also
available at 1 (800) 452-IDOT [4368].
Various construction zones will be open for Easter weekend from 3
p.m. Friday through midnight Sunday. However, due to the nature of
some projects, there will be construction zones throughout the state
that will continue to operate. The Department of Transportation is
urging motorists to slow down and drive with caution through these
work zones. Holiday travelers are reminded that work-zone speed
limits are still in effect.
Areas that will continue to have lane closures are as follows:
Clinton County
Staged construction with temporary traffic signals along Illinois
Route 127 approximately 2.5 miles south of Carlyle -- This lane
restriction is necessary to repair the existing bridge deck.
Cook County
Torrence Avenue and Illinois 83 at Kingery and I-80-94 in Lansing
-- Two lanes open in each direction with bridge, ramp and median
work continuing. The entrance ramp from Torrence to westbound
I-80-94 is closed with detour posted.
Bishop Ford in South Holland -- Two lanes each direction from
159th to I-80. Ramp from northbound Ford to eastbound 159th closed.
Ramp from southbound Ford to eastbound Kingery reduced to one lane.
Illinois 394 in Thornton and Lansing -- One lane in each
direction between Glenwood-Lansing Road and I-80. Northbound
Illinois 394 to eastbound I-80 and northbound I-294 closed with
detour posted. Ramp from northbound 394 to westbound I-80 and
northbound 294 closed with detour posted.
Kingery in Lansing, Thornton, South Holland, Hammond and Munster
-- Three lanes in each direction with some narrow lanes and lane
shifts from U.S. 41 and Calumet Avenue in Indiana to I-94. Two lanes
in each direction from I-94 to I-80-294, the Tri-State Tollway. Ramp
from eastbound I-80 and southbound I-294 to westbound I-94 and
Bishop Ford closed with detour posted.
Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago -- Three lanes open in both
directions from 95th Street to 18th Street. Express lanes will be
closed. From 71st to 95th, inside lane will be closed in both
directions. Northbound and southbound express lanes closed from 69th
to 31st, with local lanes open to traffic. Left lane closures on
State from 71st to 87th and on Lafayette from 71st to 99th and
Wentworth Avenue. 76th Street bridge will be closed. Left lane
closed on southbound Dan Ryan from 71st to 95th. Root Street bridge
will be closed.
Dan Ryan Expressway ramp closures in Chicago -- Southbound 59th
exit and northbound 59th entrance ramps are permanently closed.
Southbound and northbound 51st Street exit and entrance ramps are
permanently closed. 76th Street southbound entrance and northbound
exit; 79th Street northbound entrance and southbound exit; 95th
Street northbound entrance and southbound exit; 71st Street
northbound exit; 75th Street northbound entrance; 87th Street
southbound entrance (detour to 79th) and 87th Street northbound
entrance and exit; Wentworth southbound exit; Roosevelt and Illinois
38 southbound entrance; Halsted northbound entrance; southbound I-55
to westbound 90-94 entrance ramp.
Skyway interchange and Dan Ryan from 67th to Wentworth Avenue --
All local lanes open. Temporary daily lane closures for punch list
work. Work will continue on State Street under the Skyway eastbound
and on westbound ramp bridges at 66th Street.
U.S. 20 and Lake Street from Illinois 53 to Addison Road in
Addison -- One lane in each direction.
Palatine-Willow Road in Wheeling, Prospect Heights -- Express
lanes closed at Illinois 21 and Milwaukee Avenue bridge. On Illinois
83 and Elmhurst Road, one lane in each direction.
Palatine-Willow Road at Illinois 83 and Elmhurst Road in
Wheeling, Prospect Heights -- One lane in each direction.
Oak Park Avenue from Illinois 38 to Illinois 64 in Oak Park --
One lane in each direction.
Maple Avenue and Chicago Avenue from Cumnor Road to Illinois 83
in Clarendon Hills, Westmont -- Eastbound traffic closed for the
duration of project. Westbound traffic only. Eastbound traffic
follows a posted detour route.
Grand Avenue in Franklin Park -- One lane in each direction.
Detour posted.
Nagle Avenue over I-90 in Chicago -- One lane in each direction.
Devon Avenue at Tonne Road and Wood Dale Road in Elk Grove
Village -- Two lanes each direction, with turn lanes at the
intersection of Devon Avenue and Wood Dale-Tonne roads.
Torrence Avenue and Illinois 83 at Kingery and I-80-94 in Lansing
-- Two lanes in each direction open. Entrance ramp from Torrence to
westbound I-80 and 94 is closed with detour posted.
DeKalb County
Illinois 23 south of Genoa -- Bridge deck replacement. One lane
open, controlled by signals.
Illinois 23 three miles south of DeKalb -- Bridge deck
replacement. One lane open, controlled by signals.
Effingham County
I-57-70 mile marker 158 -- Bridge replacement. Two narrow lanes
open each direction.
I-57-70 mile marker 160 -- Interchange work. North, eastbound
shoulder closed.
Fulton County
U.S. Route 24 near Duncan Mills -- New bridge construction. One
lane open, controlled by signals.
Henry County
Illinois 78 bridge over Mud Creek three miles north of Kewanee --
Bridge deck replacement restricts traffic to one lane controlled by
traffic signals.
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 Lake County
Illinois 22 and Half Day Road from Illinois 83 and Mundelein Road
to U.S. 45-21 in Buffalo Grove, Long Grove and Lincolnshire -- One
lane in each direction with turn lanes at intersections.
Illinois 22 from Bueshing Road to Quentin Road in Lake Zurich --
One lane in each direction with turn lanes at intersections.
Lake Zurich bypass of Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad, Illinois
22, U.S. 12 in Lake Zurich -- One lane in each direction with turn
lanes at intersections.
Illinois 83 over the Wisconsin Central Ltd. Railroad in Lake
Villa, Loon Lake, Antioch -- Two narrow lanes open in each
direction. Wide load not accessible.
LaSalle County
Interstate 39 mile marker 55 -- Crossover construction at each
end of the Abe Lincoln bridge. One lane open each direction.
Interstate 39 mile marker 73 -- Bridge rehabilitation. One lane
open in each direction.
Interstate 39 mile marker 33 -- Bridge rehabilitation. One lane
open in each direction.
Macon County
I-72 around Decatur -- One lane open eastbound from mile marker
132 to mile marker 141. Two lanes open westbound from mile marker
132 to mile marker 141.
Madison County
Staged construction with temporary traffic signals along Illinois
Route 160 just south of Grantfork -- This lane restriction is
necessary to replace the existing bridge. A signed wide-load detour
is in place to direct the traveling public.
Staged construction with temporary traffic signals along Illinois
Route 4 just north of the intersection of Illinois Route 4 and
Illinois Route 143 near Marine -- This lane restriction is necessary
to replace the existing bridge over Silver Creek. A signed wide-load
detour is in place to direct the traveling public.
McHenry County
U.S. 14 at Mokeler Creek to north of Illinois 173 in Harvard --
Traffic is shifted to the east side of the bridge, with one lane
open in each direction.
Ogle County
Illinois 72 bridge over Stillman Creek at the east edge of
Stillman Valley -- Bridge replacement restricts traffic to one lane
controlled by traffic signals.
Peoria County
Interstate 74, Exit 89, at War Memorial Drive -- Westbound and
eastbound entrance and exit ramps closed for pavement
reconstruction. Motorists should use Exit 88 at Sterling Avenue as
an alternate route.
Interstate 74, Exit 90, at Gale Avenue -- Westbound entrance and
exit ramps closed for pavement reconstruction.
Interstate 74, Exit 91, at University Avenue -- Westbound
entrance ramp closed for pavement reconstruction.
Pulaski County
Illinois 37 at Kitchel Slough, one-half mile north of Karnak --
Bridge replacement. One-lane bridge open; traffic controlled by
signals.
Randolph County
Staged construction with temporary traffic signals along Illinois
Route 3 approximately 1.5 miles north of Ruma -- This lane
restriction is necessary to replace the existing bridge.
Rock Island County
U.S. 150 intersection with 86th Street west of Coal Valley --
Traffic restricted to one lane and controlled by traffic signals due
to the old pavement being removed to change the roadway alignment.
Sangamon County
Old U.S. 36 and Camp Butler Road at Riverton -- Closed to replace
three structures.
Old U.S. 36 just north of I-72 at the Camp Butler exit -- Reduced
to one lane for structure repair; signals in use.
St. Clair County
Stage construction along Illinois Route 157 near I-64 is reducing
the number of lanes from two to one lane in the southbound
direction.
Stage construction along Illinois Route 163 2.5 miles north of
Millstadt -- The removal and replacement of the bridge over Prairie
DuPont Creek will be completed in two stages. Temporary traffic
signals in use. Work on the bridge is expected to be completed by
Nov. 30.
Tazewell County
Interstate 74, Exit 95A, at Main Street -- Westbound exit ramp to
southbound Main Street closed for pavement reconstruction. Access to
northbound Main Street will remain open.
Interstate 74, Exit 95A, at Main Street -- Westbound entrance
ramp closed for pavement reconstruction.
Interstate 74, Exit 95B, at Camp Street -- Westbound entrance
ramp closed for pavement reconstruction.
Interstate 74, Exit 96, at Washington Street -- Westbound
entrance ramp closed for pavement reconstruction.
Union County
U.S. 51 just south of Cobden School Road -- Bridge replacement.
One-lane bridge open; traffic controlled by signals.
Vermilion County
Main Street in Danville -- Due to stage contraction, there will
be one lane eastbound and one lane westbound on Main Street in
downtown Danville.
Warren County
U.S. Route 34 4.5 miles east of Monmouth -- Bridge repair. One
lane open in each direction.
White County
Illinois 14 west of Carmi -- Bridge replacement. One lane open;
traffic controlled by signals.
U.S. 45 1.5 miles south of Illinois 14, U.S. 45 intersection
south of Enfield -- Bridge replacement. One-lane bridge open;
traffic controlled by signals.
Whiteside County
Illinois 40 bridges over Winnebago Ditch one mile north of Deer
Grove and over the Green River one mile south of Deer Grove --
Bridge replacement restricts traffic to one lane controlled by
traffic signals at both locations.
U.S. 30 bridge over the Mississippi River -- The crossing is
closed to allow for complete replacement of two approach structures.
Traffic is detoured one mile north on Illinois 84 to use the
Illinois 136 bridge over the Mississippi.
Moline Road is closed northeast of Lyndon near Yorktown Road to
replace a bridge over a drainage ditch. Traffic using Moline Road is
directed to use I-88 as a detour.
Will County
I-55, Illinois 53 interchange -- Ramp improvements in
Bolingbrook. Expect delays.
I-80 and I-55 -- Reconstruction of ramps and frontage road bridge
reconstruction. I-80 will be reduced to one lane in Troy Township.
I-80 over Des Plaines River, southbound I-55 will be reduced to
one lane in Joliet.
Winnebago County
Illinois 173 is closed at the I-90 overpass to allow for
construction of a new interchange. Illinois 173 traffic is detoured
around the work area on Illinois 251, Swanson Road and Belvidere
Road.
[Illinois
Department of Transportation news release] |
