Close to nine million vehicles are expected to traverse state toll roads over Thanksgiving weekend, according to the Illinois Tollway, but there’s some good news for travelers using the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (Interstate 90). The Jane Addams is currently undergoing a $2.5 billion rebuilding and widening project, and tollway officials say work is wrapping up between Interstate 294 and the Elgin Toll Plaza in time for the holiday commute.
Four lanes are scheduled to open in both directions between Beverly Road and the Elgin Toll Plaza, and from Roselle Road to just east of Arlington Heights Road – a sign of relief for the almost 1 million commuters who travel between downtown Chicago and Rockford via the I-90 corridor each day. Work to widen the entire 25-mile eastern segment of the Jane Addams to four lanes is expected to wrap up by the end of December.
Additionally, the Illinois Tollway recently opened a new eastbound exit ramp at the Roselle Road Interchange and westbound exit/entrance ramps at the new Meacham Road Interchange. “The Tollway system, including I-90, is an integral part of a regional roadway network that will carry drivers from Rockford to Chicago safely and efficiently for decades to come,” Illinois Tollway Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom said in a news release. In all, the four-year project includes rebuilding and widening 62 miles of roadway, as well as improvements to 16 interchanges and more than 100 bridges.
The Illinois Tollway also announced that most construction activity throughout the state’s 292-mile tollway system would be restricted to better accommodate a higher number of holiday travelers. Most construction lane closures and temporary maintenance will be put on hold from noon on November 23 to 9am on November 28. More than 1.8 million vehicles are expected to travel state toll roads on November 23, which officials are projecting to be the busiest travel day.
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