Prairie State Wire

A long-term ramp closure is set to begin next week at the Illinois Route 53 Interchange on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) for toll plaza improvements. The closure will continue into June, with electronic message signs and construction signage alerting drivers in advance. Information will be updated on the Tollway website's Daily Construction Alert. The work is dependent on weather conditions.

On Sunday, June 8, the ramp connecting eastbound I-90 to northbound Illinois Route 53 will close at 8 p.m. and remain closed for several weeks. A detour will direct traffic to southbound Illinois Route 53, Higgins Road, and back onto northbound Illinois Route 53. The extended closures are necessary for removing the toll plaza canopy and barrier wall, followed by installing new tolling infrastructure. Additional work includes ramp pavement and shoulder work, as well as electrical, lighting, and signage improvements.

Further toll plaza work is planned at this interchange on the eastbound I-90 to southbound Illinois Route 53 ramp, utilizing traffic shifts and lane closures as needed. An Illinois Department of Transportation project in this area may require occasional overnight ramp closures. These closures are coordinated with the Illinois Department of Transportation, City of Rolling Meadows, Village of Schaumburg, and local fire and police departments.

In 2025, improvements at toll plazas systemwide aim to enhance traffic flow and mobility. These improvements focus on structural, safety, and operational considerations as part of the Tollway’s $15 billion capital program "Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future." Maps and construction information are available in the Projects section on the Tollway’s website.

Construction zone speed limits are enforced around-the-clock in all zones. Drivers should watch for changing traffic patterns and exercise caution when workers are present. The "Move Over Law" requires motorists to change lanes or slow down when passing any vehicle with hazard lights activated on the roadside.

Illinois State Police enforce strict penalties for speeding in work zones or failing to comply with the Move Over Law. Penalties include a minimum fine of $250 for speeding in a work zone up to a $25,000 fine and a potential jail sentence for hitting a roadway worker. Failing to slow down or move over can result in fines up to $10,000, a two-year suspension of driving privileges, and possible jail time.

The "Move Illinois" program aims to improve mobility while creating jobs across Northern Illinois' economy by delivering new infrastructure projects within budget.

The Illinois Tollway operates without state or federal funds across 294 miles of roadways in Northern Illinois counties including several major tollways like Reagan Memorial (I-88), Veterans Memorial (I-355), Jane Addams Memorial (I-90), Tri-State (I-94/I-294/I-80), and Illinois Route 390.

Information from this article can be found here.