Lane closures will begin next week on Grand Avenue in Northlake and Melrose Park as part of the Illinois Tollway’s I-490 project. The closures are needed for the reconstruction of the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge over Grand Avenue, which is a component of building the new I-490 Tollway.
Starting Monday, February 23, one lane in each direction on Grand Avenue between Rhodes Avenue and Garnet Drive will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. These restrictions are expected to continue through spring as bridge abutment construction progresses. When work is not active, all lanes will reopen until further closures are necessary.
Additional closures with detours are planned later in 2026 to complete remaining bridge work, including installing beams. The Illinois Tollway is coordinating this effort with the Illinois Department of Transportation, Cook County, and the City of Northlake, along with local fire and police departments.
Information about ongoing construction updates, project details, maps, and detour routes can be found in the Projects section on the Illinois Tollway’s website at www.illinoistollway.com.
The I-490 Tollway project aims to improve regional mobility by providing western access to O’Hare International Airport. The more than $4 billion initiative involves constructing six miles of new roadway and six new or improved interchanges that connect major routes such as I-90 (Jane Addams Memorial Tollway), I-294 (Tri-State Tollway), I-290, and Illinois Route 390.
As part of this larger effort, drainage and utility improvements are also being made in addition to reconstructing the railroad bridge over Grand Avenue. Lane closures and detours related to these works are scheduled through 2026.
This construction is included within Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future—a $15 billion capital program spanning 16 years that focuses on enhancing mobility across Northern Illinois without using state or federal funds for maintenance or operations. The program has already delivered projects like the new Illinois Route 390 Tollway and upgrades to existing corridors.
Drivers should note that speed limits in construction zones remain enforced at all times; specifically on I-294 there is a posted limit of 45 mph during construction season. The “Move Over Law” requires motorists to change lanes or slow down when approaching vehicles stopped with hazard lights activated:
“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 strictly enforce these rules:
“Illinois State Police have zero tolerance for drivers speeding in work zonesor 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 avehicle on the shoulder with flashing lights include up to a$10,000 fine, 2-year suspensionof
driving privileges and jail time, in extreme cases.”
The Move Illinois program has supported job creation—up to an estimated 165,220 jobs—and seeks long-term congestion relief throughout Northern Illinois by linking key economic regions.
