The Illinois Tollway announced that a new fly-under ramp connecting northbound Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to westbound I-290 is set to open this weekend. This development is part of the ongoing I-290/I-88 Interchange at I-294 Project, which aims to improve traffic flow and reduce travel times in the area.
According to Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse, “Opening of this new fly-under ramp is a critical piece of our work to reconfigure and improve travel through the entire I-290/I-88 Interchange on the Tri-State Tollway. Until now, cars and trucks have had to dramatically reduce speed to safely navigate the old, single lane and tightly curved ramp to reach I-290, and this new ramp will ultimately reduce travel times from 10 minutes to 3 minutes for traffic traveling between I-294 and I-290.”
The current loop ramp, which requires drivers to slow down significantly, will be replaced by the new two-lane fly-under ramp. Once operational, northbound I-294 traffic heading toward westbound I-290 will exit onto auxiliary lanes before accessing the left lanes leading under the mainline. Drivers not exiting will continue north on I-294. New signage and electronic message boards are being installed ahead of time to inform motorists about changes.
To facilitate the opening, overnight lane closures and detours are scheduled for Saturday night. Detours will direct affected vehicles via eastbound I-290 and Mannheim Road as needed while ramps are closed temporarily.
The $800 million reconfiguration project began in 2020 and is expected to finish by late 2027. The interchange serves over 300,000 vehicles daily, connecting several major highways as well as local roads. The improvements also include barriers separating different ramp movements and redesigned ramps for other key connections in the interchange.
Construction efforts involve coordination with various agencies such as the Illinois Department of Transportation, Cook County Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, DuPage Water Commission, PACE Suburban Bus, Canadian National Railroad, local municipalities including Oak Brook and Elmhurst, park districts, fire departments, and police departments.
Further information about construction updates can be found on the Illinois Tollway’s website.
This project is part of a larger $4 billion Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) initiative that seeks to reconstruct and widen sections between Balmoral Avenue and 95th Street in order to address congestion issues for more than 220,000 daily users.
Motorists are reminded that construction zone speed limits remain enforced at all times on these roadways. The Move Over Law also applies; drivers must change lanes or slow down when passing vehicles with hazard lights activated or risk severe penalties including fines or jail time.
The broader Move Illinois program spans 16 years with a $15 billion budget dedicated to improving mobility across Northern Illinois through projects like this one.
