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The Department of Transportation has opened up various construction
zones for the Memorial Day weekend. Restrictions will be in place
from 3 p.m. Friday through midnight Monday.
"Memorial Day weekend is a busy time on the roadways since so
many folks are traveling to see family and friends. We want to urge
drivers as well as passengers to buckle up before hitting the
roadways," said Milton R. Sees, acting secretary of the Department
of Transportation. "We're opening as many lanes as possible, to keep
drivers and workers safe and also to make travel as smooth as
possible."
Holiday travelers are reminded that work zone speed limits will
continue to be in effect 24/7 in all construction zones. Motorists
should continue to watch for changing traffic patterns and use
caution, especially when workers are present. The minimum fine for
speeding in a work zone is $375, whether there are workers present
or not. Posted signs advise motorists of a $10,000 fine and 14-year
jail sentence for hitting a roadway worker.
Reminder to drivers: "Click It or Ticket"
Also this holiday weekend, the Department of Transportation and
Illinois State Police are teaming up with more than 300 local police
agencies to mount the largest ever nighttime safety belt enforcement
effort in Illinois. During the Memorial Day Click it or Ticket
mobilization, motorists can expect more than 3,600 safety belt
enforcement zones statewide, with almost 700 enforcement zones
planned for after dark, the time when surveys show more drivers fail
to buckle up.
In addition, Illinois State Police District 15 will patrol the
274-mile Illinois Tollway system throughout the holiday. Troopers
will conduct roadside safety checks throughout the weekend, as part
of Click It or Ticket and the Special Traffic Enforcement Program to
raise public awareness of traffic laws by enforcing speed limits and
seat belt usage.
District 15 will also run Operation Combined Accident Reduction
Effort details, which focus on the "fatal five" violations:
speeding, following too closely, failure to use seat belts, improper
lane usage and driving while under the influence -- all of which
will be rigorously enforced.
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 Permanent work zones and closures remain in place
In the greater Chicagoland area, all lanes on the Edens,
Eisenhower, Kennedy and Stevenson expressways, as well as
interstates 80 and 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. This work is not expected to affect traffic and will help
keep projects on schedule. 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.
Motorists are advised to check
www.illinoisroads.info
for information regarding road conditions and updates on road
construction. Department of Transportation interstate road condition
information is also available at 1-800-452-IDOT (4368).
For details about areas that will continue to have lane closures,
click here.
[Text from Illinois
Department of Transportation news release received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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