The Illinois Tollway is preparing for a busy holiday travel season and is reminding drivers to prioritize safety while on the road. According to agency forecasts, the highest traffic volumes are expected on Friday, December 19, and Tuesday, December 23, with approximately 1.8 million vehicles anticipated on the system each day. Traffic is projected to decrease on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, with about 1.1 million and fewer than one million vehicles respectively using the tollways. On average, 1.6 million vehicles travel daily across the Tollway’s 294-mile network.
“The Illinois Tollway wishes all its customers happy holidays and safe travels for Hanukkah, Christmas and the New Year, so if you need to pull over while traveling on the Tollway, we remind drivers you should always stay in your car and call *999 for roadside assistance,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “Experts agree that your vehicle is the safest place. It’s built to protect you in an impact. But if you get out, even just for a second, you are vulnerable to other cars and trucks traveling by.”
Drivers who require assistance can dial *999 for support from Highway Emergency Lane Patrols (H.E.L.P), which will have increased presence during the holidays to provide services such as tire changes, battery jump-starts, fuel delivery, or arranging towing.
Motorists are encouraged to provide clear information about their location when calling for help—including roadway name, direction of travel, and nearest milepost or exit—to ensure prompt response. While waiting for assistance, drivers should park safely on the shoulder if possible, activate hazard lights, and remain inside their vehicle.
Illinois law requires drivers approaching any stopped vehicle with flashing lights—regardless of whether it is an emergency responder or another motorist—to slow down and move over when possible. Penalties for violating this Move Over Law start at $250 for a first offense and increase to $750 for subsequent violations.
Additionally, drivers are reminded that using hand-held devices while driving is illegal in Illinois—even when stopped at a traffic signal—and constitutes a moving violation.
To accommodate increased holiday travel volume, construction lane closures will be suspended from noon on Wednesday, December 24 through 9 a.m. Monday December 29; and again from noon Wednesday December 31 through 9 a.m. Monday January 5. However, some work zones may remain active; motorists should continue to observe posted speed limits in these areas.
Ongoing construction impacts include shifted lanes between Ogden Avenue and North Avenue along I-94/I-294/I-80 (Tri-State Tollway), several ramp closures with posted detours near St. Charles Road and Golf Road exits as well as reduced lanes from eastbound I-88 onto southbound I-294.
The Illinois Tollway operates without state or federal funding for maintenance or operations—relying instead on user fees—and maintains more than 290 miles of roadways across twelve counties in Northern Illinois including major routes such as Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80) and Illinois Route 390 Tollway.
