Monday, Nov. 20

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Updated state travel website provides road condition, construction information

IDOT suspends lane closures to give motorists a break

[NOV. 20, 2006]  SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod. R. Blagojevich urged holiday travelers to plan their trips ahead of time by using new technology developed by the Illinois Department of Transportation to avoid travel delays. By visiting www.gettingaroundillinois.com, travelers can get driving directions; check the weather, construction areas and road conditions; and find biofuel stations. The governor also reminded people who want to avoid traffic to take advantage of additional state-supported Amtrak service as an alternative to driving.

"Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate with friends and family," Blagojevich said. "No one wants to spend it stuck in traffic. That's why we're doing what we can to help people plan ahead for the busy holiday travel season so they can get where they're going safely and without unnecessary delays."

AAA predicts a total of 38.3 million Thanksgiving travelers nationwide, with 31.7 million of those driving on the roads -- an increase of 2.7 percent over last year. For the Great Lakes region, AAA predicts 6.2 million people will be traveling by car -- up 2.9 percent from last year.

Over the last several years, Blagojevich has pushed for the expansion of travel options and also promoted the aggressive use of technology to help motorists avoid congestion and travel delays. Those initiatives include the following:

  • In order to encourage more Illinoisans to travel by rail, the state this year teamed up with Amtrak to increase service on three Illinois routes: Chicago to Carbondale, Chicago to St. Louis, and Chicago to Galesburg and Quincy. Schedules, reservations and tickets are now available nationwide through Amtrak.com or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).

  • The conversion of the Illinois Tollway's traditional toll plazas to a barrier-free Open Road Tolling system allows I-PASS users to travel at highway speeds while their tolls are collected electronically. Drivers who want to take advantage of the time savings provided by Open Road Tolling can buy an I-PASS online at www.getipass.com, at Jewel-Oscos throughout Chicagoland or by calling 1-800-UC-IPASS (1-800-824-7277). The $50 investment is worthwhile even if drivers travel the tollway only occasionally, because the I-PASS prepaid balance never expires and it provides a 50 percent discount on tolls.

  • A new online resource from the Department of Transportation, www.gettingaroundillinois.com, can help drivers get directions as well as check the weather and road conditions.

  • This fall, the Department of Transportation unveiled a new, free service at www.iltrafficalert.com that allows drivers in northeastern Illinois to sign up to receive customized e-mails that provide travel times and incident reports on selected routes.

  • The Illinois Tollway offers e-mail updates either through www.nbc5.com or its construction e-newsletter at www.illinoistollway.com, and drivers can also look up information in the construction section of the tollway's website.

  • The website www.gcmtravel.com also provides travel time and congestion information for expressways and the tollway in northeastern Illinois.

  • Statewide road construction on the interstate system is also available by phone at 1-800-452-IDOT (4368).

  • The tollway also offers daily lane closure information by phone at 1-800-TOLL-FYI (1-800-865-5394).

In addition, the Department of Transportation announced that in order to give motorists a break over the holiday weekend, it will suspend all construction-related lane closures where possible starting at 3 p.m. on Wednesday through early Nov. 27.

In Peoria, the Department of Transportation announced that as of Sunday, major construction activities on the largest construction project in downstate Illinois history came to an end. The "Upgrade 74" project was a four-year, half-billion-dollar reconstruction of Interstate 74 in Peoria and East Peoria. During the work, the Department of Transportation removed and replaced 32 bridges, constructed one new interchange, and made significant safety improvements to the ramps and lanes of I-74.

In Chicago, the outbound Dan Ryan Expressway, I-90-94, is back in its regular configuration from 13th Street to 71st and inbound from 31st Street to 13th Street. However, lane closures related to the Dan Ryan reconstruction project will remain in place until the beginning of December.

In the greater Chicagoland area, all lanes on the Edens, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Stevenson expressways and I-80 and I-57 will be open.

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:

Cook County

Oak Park Avenue -- Widening and resurfacing in Oak Forest. Southbound Oak Park Avenue closed from Ridgeland Avenue to 151st Street; Justamere Road closed from 143rd Street to 147th Street. Local traffic only.

Dan Ryan Expressway -- Reconstruction in Chicago. Three lanes open in both directions. From 71st to 95th the outside lane will be closed in both directions. Three northbound express lanes are closed from 69th to 31st Street, with local lanes and one express open to traffic. Root Street Bridge will be closed.

Bishop Ford -- Reconstruction in South Holland. Two lanes each direction from 159th to I-80. Ramp from southbound Ford to eastbound Kingery reduced to one lane. Ramp from southbound Ford and eastbound I-94 to westbound I-80 and the northbound I-294 TriState Tollway closed with detour posted. Ramp from eastbound 159th Street to eastbound I-94 closed with detour posted.

Illinois 394 -- Reconstruction in Thornton and Lansing. One lane in each direction between Glenwood-Lansing Road and I-80. Ramp from westbound I-80 to southbound Illinois 394 will be closed with detour posted.

Kingery -- Reconstruction 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 the I-80-294 Tri-State Tollway. Ramp from eastbound I-80 and southbound I-294 to westbound I-94 and Bishop Ford closed with detour posted. Ramp from westbound I-80 to southbound Illinois 394 will be closed with detour posted.

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Clay County

U.S. Route 45 north of Louisville -- Widening and resurfacing project. Detour road two miles north of Louisville. Both lanes open.

Coles County

I-57 milepost 192 -- New interchange work. Inside median shoulders closed.

Jo Daviess County

U.S. 20 bridge over the Apple River two miles west of Elizabeth -- Bridge deck replacement restricts traffic to one lane controlled by traffic signals.

Kane County

U.S. 20 and Lake Street over the Fox River -- Bridge repair in Elgin. One lane in each direction.

North Avenue and Illinois 64 at Randall Road -- Widening and resurfacing in St. Charles. One lane in each direction.

Lake County

Illinois Route 22 and Half Day Road from Illinois Route 83 and Mundelein Road to U.S. 45 and 21 -- Roadway reconstruction in Buffalo Grove, Long Grove and Lincolnshire. One lane in each direction with turn lanes at intersections. Tight right-turn radius at Prairie Road and Main Street on Illinois Route 22. Two-thirds of the project has been placed on new pavement, and the last third will be switched in late November. Motorists should be aware of new lane configurations.

Illinois Route 22 from Beusching to Quentin Road -- Roadway widening and reconstruction in Lake Zurich. One lane in each direction, with turn lanes at intersections.

Illinois Route 83 over the Wisconsin Central Ltd. and Elgin, Joliet and Eastern railroad -- New bridge deck at Lake Villa, Loon Lake and Antioch. All lanes currently open. Ongoing construction activity beneath and adjacent to bridge. No lane closures needed.

Madison County

Motorists will encounter temporary traffic signals with staged construction along Illinois Route 143 just west of Interstate 70. This lane restriction is necessary to replace the existing bridge beams on the structure carrying Illinois Route 143 over Sugar Creek. The project is expected to be completed by the summer of 2007.

Motorists will encounter temporary traffic signals with staged construction along Illinois Route 4 five miles 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. Work on the bridge is expected to be completed by Nov. 30.

Motorists will encounter temporary traffic signals with staged construction along Illinois Route 4 just south of the intersection of Illinois Route 4 and U.S. Route 40 near St. Jacob. This lane restriction is necessary to replace the existing bridge over Lake Fork Creek. A signed wide-load detour is in place to direct the traveling public. Work on the bridge is expected to be completed by Nov. 30.

Marion County

Motorists will encounter temporary traffic signals with staged construction on U.S. Route 50 approximately two miles and three miles west of the Clay County line. These lane restrictions are necessary to replace the bridges over Skillet Fork and Dums Creek. Work on these structures is expected to be completed by the summer of 2007.

Saline County

Illinois 34 1.7 miles north of Harrisburg -- Temporary traffic signals. One lane open, with traffic controlled by signals.

Illinois 34 at north edge of Harrisburg -- Temporary traffic signals. One lane open, with traffic controlled by signals.

St. Clair County

Staged construction along Route Illinois 157 near I-64 is reducing the number of lanes from two to one lane in the southbound direction.

Motorists will encounter construction along Illinois Route 161 just south of Lincoln Trail in Fairview Heights. Southbound traffic will be shifted into the northbound lane, restricting traffic to one lane in each direction. Concrete barrier wall will be used to separate the northbound and southbound traffic across the existing bridge.

White County

Illinois 14 3.3 miles east of Crossville -- Temporary traffic signals. One lane open, with traffic controlled by signals.

U.S. 45 1.5 miles south of Mill Shoals -- Temporary traffic signals. One lane open, with traffic controlled by signals

Winnebago County

Illinois 173 is closed at the I-90 overpass to allow for construction of a new interchange. Illinois 173 is detoured around the work area on Illinois 251, Swanson Road and Belvidere Road.

Will County

U.S. 30 from Essington to Larkin -- Reconstruction in Crest Hill and Joliet. One lane in each direction.

159th Street and U.S. Route 6 under CN railroad bridge -- Bridge reconstruction in Harvey. Road closed between Park Avenue and Center Street.

[News release from the governor's office]

           

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