Tollway Starts Reconstruction Work at Orchard Road, I-88 Ramp
(CREDIT: Google Maps)
The Illinois Tollway has started ramp reconstruction at the Orchard Road Interchange on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), with the major portion of the work scheduled to begin near the end of next week.
According to the village of North Aurora e-newsletter, the westbound exit ramp from I-88 will be reconstructed, and the eastbound entrance ramp to I-88 will be widened and reconstructed.
(CREDIT: Google Maps)
The ramps will be constructed in stages.
“We anticipate the largest delay to be with the westbound exit ramp during the evening rush,” North Aurora officials said. “Some delays may occur due to the reduced turn lanes and vehicle storage. A message board has been added to use IL Route 31 as an alternate route.”
Additional information can be found on the Illinois Tollway’s website.
Work is anticipated to be completed by early November. Final landscaping and striping will be completed in early spring of 2019.
Check the tollway’s Daily Construction Alerts page for updates.
Tollway Construction Overview
(CREDIT: Illinois Tollway)
The Illinois Tollway is resurfacing and rebuilding ramps and bridges at six interchanges on I-88 between Illinois Route 251 and Orchard Road.
The interchange improvements are needed to extend the life of the ramps and bridges and improve travel in the area.
Construction began in March with the majority of work complete by the end of 2018.
Project Summary
In 2018, interchange improvements are scheduled or already took place at Illinois Route 251 and I-39 in Rochelle, Annie Glidden Road and Peace Road in DeKalb, and at Orchard Road in North Aurora.
Work at Illinois Route 56 in Sugar Grove is scheduled for 2019.
Work scheduling was staggered so that adjacent interchanges are not under construction at the same time.
Customer Impacts
Ramp and bridge work will require closures and detours to safely accommodate construction and will allow the work to be completed in half the time.
Electronic message signs and construction signage will be put in place in advance to alert drivers to scheduled lane closures, traffic patterns and work zone speed limits.
Work Zone Safety
The Illinois Tollway is committed to ensuring that the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) remain safe for both drivers and workers during construction, which is part of the agency’s overall commitment to roadway safety.
A 45 mph work zone speed limit will be in effect on I-88 throughout the repair project.
Work zone speed limits are in effect in all construction zones 24/7, and drivers should continue to watch for changing traffic patterns and use caution, especially when workers are present.
The Illinois Tollway reminds motorists that the “Move Over Law” requires motorists to change lanes or to slow down and proceed with caution when passing any vehicle on the side of the road with hazard lights activated.
If you see flashing lights ahead, move over or slow down.
Illinois State Police have zero tolerance for drivers speeding in work zones or failure to comply with the Move Over Law.
The minimum penalty for speeding in a work zone is $375. Posted signs advise drivers of a $10,000 fine and a 14-year jail sentence for hitting a roadway worker.
Penalties for failure to slow down or move over for a vehicle on the shoulder with flashing lights includes up to a $10,000 fine, two-year suspension of driving privileges and jail time, in extreme cases.
For more information, visit the Tollway’s Work Zone Safety page at illinoistollway.com.
Purpose
The work is part of the tollway’s 15-year, $14 billion capital program, “Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future.”
The project is being coordinated with the Illinois Department of Transportation, city of DeKalb, DeKalb County, Kane County, Ogle County, Dement Township, Malta Township, DeKalb Township, City of Rochelle, Pierce Township, Kaneville Township, village of Sugar Grove and Cortland Township, as well as local fire and police departments and Northern Illinois University.
Building Green
The tollway is committed to “Building Green” and minimizing the environmental impact of construction by reducing, recycling and reusing materials.
In addition to reducing the cost of this work, reuse of these materials reduces the need for virgin asphalt materials and reduces energy consumption, greenhouse gases and the volume of material that would otherwise be sent to landfills.
SOURCE: village of North Aurora, Illinois Tollway
