Overnight lane and ramp closures on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) are scheduled to begin this week and will continue through June as the Tollway begins reconstruction of the northbound Tri-State Tollway (I-294) bridge over I-88. Delays are expected.
The Tollway is removing and reconstructing the northbound bridge over I-88, as part of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project. Traffic on I-294 is currently shifted away from the work zone. The closures will be scheduled during overnight hours to reduce the impact on traffic and to provide a safe work zone for construction.
Electronic message and construction signage will be put in place in advance to alert drivers on I-294, I-88 and I-290 to the construction work zones, closures and detours. Up-to-date information regarding lane closures will be available in the Illinois Tollway’s Daily Construction Alerts. All work is weather dependent.
During the week of May 15, overnight single lane closures on I-88 at the I-294/I-290 Interchange are scheduled for advance work to prepare for bridge removal. During this time, 15-minute full closures of the ramp connecting westbound I-290 to both southbound I-294 and to westbound Roosevelt Road may be needed.
Once the advance work is complete, work to remove the overhead bridge structure will begin and continue through June. To complete this work, I-88 is scheduled to be reduced to a single lane in both directions overnight with intermittent full closures, each lasting 15 minutes, along with additional intermittent closures of the ramp carrying westbound I-290 to southbound I-294 and westbound Roosevelt Road.
All closures are scheduled during overnight hours with lanes and ramps reopening ahead of the morning rush hour.
Occasional overnight lane closures will continue as needed through the summer and similar full roadway closures on I-88 and ramps will be needed in the fall once bridge reconstruction begins.
The closures needed to reconstruct the I-294 bridge over I-88 are in addition to ramp closures already scheduled in May for interchange work, including overnight detours of the ramp carrying eastbound I-88 to northbound I-294 and westbound I-290. During the closures, traffic will be detoured to Mannheim Road and through the interchange to westbound I-290 to the Lake Street exit and through the interchange onto northbound I-294.
Information including maps, construction updates are available in the Projects section on the Tollway’s website at www.illinoistollway.com.
Construction in this area is being coordinated with the Illinois Department of Transportation, Village of Berkeley, City of Elmhurst, Village of Hillside, City of Northlake, Village of Oak Brook and Proviso Township, as well as local fire and police departments.
Work in 2023 at the I-290/I-88 Interchange at I-294 includes ongoing reconstruction of bridges over Roosevelt Road, I-88, Butterfield Road, the Canadian National Railroad, I-290 and Electric Avenue and work to build a temporary ramp from southbound I-294 to eastbound I-290 and westbound I-88.
The reconfiguration and reconstruction of the I-290/I-88 Interchange is estimated at $700-$800 million and will reduce congestion, improve safety and address operational issues, as well as infrastructure conditions as part of the Illinois Tollway’s $4 billion Central Tri-State Project. Work started in 2020 and is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2026.
Work Zone Safety
Construction 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. On I-294 and I-88, a 45 mph work zone speed limit is in effect throughout the construction season.
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, please 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 $250 with up to a $25,000 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, 2-year suspension of driving privileges and jail time, in extreme cases.
About Move Illinois
The Illinois Tollway’s 15-year, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, is improving mobility, relieving congestion, reducing pollution, creating as many as 152,000 jobs and linking economies throughout the region. The first 11 years of Move Illinois are on schedule and within budget, delivering the rebuilt and widened Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) as a state-of-the-art 21st century corridor and opening a new interchange connecting the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to I-57. Progress continues on projects addressing the remaining needs of the existing Tollway system, delivering the Elgin O’Hare Western Access Project and planning for emerging projects, including reconstruction of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294).
About the Illinois Tollway
The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 294 miles of roadways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80) and the Illinois Route 390 Tollway.
