Tollway announces $609 million construction plan
SUN-TIMES MEDIA December 27, 2011 12:34PM
Updated: March 24, 2012 11:46PM
The Illinois Tollway on Tuesday announced its construction program for next year -- nearly $609 million in projects which include a $98.8 million plan to reconstruct and widen bridges throughout the I-90 corridor from the Kennedy Expressway to Rockford.
New projects will include beginning construction of two new, all electronic interchanges, including the new I-294/I-57 interchange -- one of two in the nation where two interstates cross but don’t connect, a release from the Tollway said.
About $29.6 billion is budgeted to construct new enbankments and bridge piers and lengthen I-294 bridges over 147th Street. In addition, ramps to and from Champaign are expected to open in fall 2014.
The agency says the ramps will provide 75 percent of the benefits of the new interchange and will “help stimulate the slow economy of the Chicago Southland area,” the release said.
An estimated $47.2 million is budgeted to begin construction of the new Route 47 interchange on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), including construction of new ramps, all-electronic toll collection and bridge reconstruction.
More than $137 million will be spent on Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294) resurfacing, and ramp and bridge repairs, including work from 95th Street to Balmoral Avenue and from the Edens Spur to Half Day Road, the release said.
In addition, $90.5 million will be used on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) to rebuild and widen a section of roadway from Deerpath Road to Route 56 in North Aurora, for roadway resurfacing from Route 56 to Route 251 in Rochelle, and for bridge and ramp repairs along the corridor. An additional $23.7 million has been set aside for ramp and lighting repairs along the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355).
An estimated $98.8 million will be spent for the reconstruction and widening of bridges throughout the I-90 corridor from the Kennedy to I-39 in Rockford, and for shoulder improvements from Randall Road in Elgin to Mill Road in Rockford to prepare for upcoming reconstruction and widening of I-90, the release said.
In addition, $14.9 million will be used to fund bridge design on the existing portion of the Elgin O’Hare Expressway between U.S. 20 and Rohlwing Road to prepare for bridge and roadway rehabilitation and widening.
Tollway customers will see the first construction projects begin in early spring on the Tri-State (I-294) and Reagan Memorial (I-88), the release said.
