Lane Closures Expected on I-90 Ramps at Route 53, Arlington Heights Road

The Illinois Tollway will begin reconstruction of ramps and tolling equipment at the Illinois Route 53 and Arlington Heights Road Interchanges on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) next week as part of the I-90 Rebuilding and Widening Project. 

Lane closures will be scheduled as the ramps and existing toll plazas are rebuilt to make room for the new, wider I-90 roadway. This work is scheduled to be complete this fall.

As part of the I-90 Rebuilding and Widening Project, the eastern segment of the roadway between Randall Road and the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) will be rebuilt and a new lane added to provide four lanes in each direction. In addition, the inside lane and shoulder in both directions will be widened to accommodate future transit opportunities. Work in this section is scheduled from 2014-2016.

Ramp Plaza Reconstruction Begins

Work is scheduled to begin after 9 a.m. on Monday, May 19, with lane closures at the ramp carrying traffic from eastbound I-90 to northbound Illinois Route 53 and the ramp carrying traffic from Arlington Heights Road to westbound I-90 as pavement and existing toll collection equipment is reconstructed at both locations. 

Additional lanes may be closed temporarily during overnight hours to complete construction between the lanes. 

At the Illinois Route 53 ramp toll plaza one automatic coin machine and one I-PASS Only lane will be available throughout construction as work progresses from lane to lane to rebuild the toll plaza. Up to 11,390 vehicles a day use this ramp.

At the Arlington Heights Road ramp to westbound I-90, one automatic coin machine and one I-PASS Only lane will be available to serve traffic as work progresses from lane to lane to rebuild the toll plaza. Up to 10,200 vehicles a day use this ramp.  

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. A 35 mph speed limit is in place on the Arlington Heights Road ramp and a 30 mph speed limit is in place on the Illinois Route 53 ramp. Drivers should continue to watch for changing traffic patterns at the plazas 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.

I-90 Rebuilding and Widening Project

The Illinois Tollway is rebuilding and widening 62 miles along the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I‐90) as a 21st century, state‐of‐the-art corridor linking Rockford to O’Hare International Airport. The I‐90 corridor from Chicago to Rockford serves nearly 1 million travelers per day. This work is part of the Tollway’s 15-year, $12 billion capital program,Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future.

In 2014, the Illinois Tollway is scheduled to complete the reconstruction and widening between Elgin and Rockford. The eastbound lanes were completed in 2013. Work on the segment of I-90 from the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to Elgin is scheduled for 2014-2016.

Ongoing construction will have an impact on travel throughout the 62-mile-long I-90 corridor. Whenever possible, the Tollway will use traffic shifts and shoulders to keep as many lanes open during peak hours as were available before construction, however, some lane closures will be needed during the construction season.

As a result, drivers may want to consider an alternate route. Depending on the destination, traffic traveling west to Rockford and Wisconsin can use the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) to I-39 as an alternate route. Likewise, traffic travelling east toward Chicago and O’Hare International Airport can use the I-39/I-88 alternate route.