Elgin residents likely will be happy to hear Friday’s Illinois Tollway announcement that it plans to open a newly reconstructed ramp at the intersection of Route 25 and I-90 shortly before the Friday-night (Nov. 21, 2014) rush hour.

The bad news, if any, is that construction work is ongoing, and some overnight lane closures will continue to be necessary for the project, which targets 2016 for its completion.

The ramp is part of the $72 million interchange project, which is reconstructing the Illinois Route 25 Bridge and the ramp bridge carrying westbound entrance and exit ramp traffic over I-90 to accommodate the new, wider roadway being built as part of the I-90 Rebuilding and Widening Project.

An Illinois Tollway press release says all the existing ramps at this full-access interchange will be reconstructed.

Weather permitting, crews will open the reconstructed ramp carrying eastbound I-90 traffic to Illinois Route 25 before the evening rush hour today, Nov. 21. Traffic has been traveling on a temporary ramp that was used during construction of the new ramp. Turn lanes on the ramp carrying traffic from I-90 to Illinois Route 25 will remain reduced to one right and one left turn lane during construction.

Traffic shifts are also scheduled on I-90 to prepare for winter construction at the interchange. Weather permitting, overnight lane closures are scheduled to begin after 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 24, to shift eastbound traffic on I-90 to the right to provide a work zone on the left at the Illinois Route 25 Interchange.

All lanes are scheduled to reopen by 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25, ahead of the morning rush hour. A similar shift is scheduled for westbound traffic the week of Dec. 1.

In addition, on Illinois Route 25 all traffic is scheduled to be shifted on the bridge carrying Illinois Route 25 over I-90 during the week of Dec. 1. All traffic will be moved onto the newly reconstructed northbound side of the bridge. The southbound bridge will then be removed over the winter months and reconstruction of a new southbound bridge will begin in spring 2015.

Construction is being coordinated with Kane County and Cook County, the city of Elgin and the Illinois Department of Transportation, along with local municipalities and police and fire departments. Up to 9,000 vehicles use the existing interchange daily.

About the Illinois Route 25 Interchange Project

The Illinois Route 25 Interchange Project is reconstructing the Illinois Route 25 Bridge over the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), as well as the four ramps that make up the interchange, and includes improvements to Illinois Route 25 and construction of a Park & Ride facility by Pace. The project cost is estimated at $72 million with work scheduled to be complete in 2016.

The project will reconstruct the Illinois Route 25 Bridge and the ramp bridge carrying the westbound entrance and exit movements over I-90, rebuild the eastbound and westbound entrance and exit ramps I-90 Illinois Route 25 Interchange and reconstruct the existing ramp toll plazas to provide one I-PASS Only lane and one automatic coin
machine. The ramps will be reconstructed and realigned to accommodate the wider I-90 roadway and will improve traffic flow.

The Illinois Route 25 Interchange Project is funded by the Illinois Tollway’s 15-year, $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. The Illinois Route 25 Bridge and ramps were constructed as part of the original Tollway system in the 1950s.

Work Zone Safety Information — $375 Minimum Penalty

A 35 mph work zone speed limit is in effect 24/7 in the construction zone on Illinois Route 25 and ramps. The work zone speed limit on I-90 is 55 mph in both directions of I-90 between Illinois Route 25 and Elmhurst Road, whether or not workers are present, while a 45 mph work zone speed limit is in place in both directions west of Illinois Route 25. Drivers should continue to watch for changing traffic patterns and use caution at all times.

Illinois State Police have zero tolerance for drivers speeding in work zones. The minimum penalty for speeding in a work zone is $375. Posted signs advise drivers of a $10,000 fine and 14-year jail sentence for hitting a roadway worker.

Getting Tollway Construction Information

The Illinois Tollway has a variety of ways customers can get the latest travel information, including www.illinoistollway.com – Construction/Planning section, Tollway Trip Calculator, live roadway
images and real-time roadway incident information.

SOURCE: Illinois Tollway press release