Prairie State Wire

Traffic shifts are set to commence next week on Franklin Avenue/Green Street between York Road and Runge Street as part of a Cook County roadway improvement project. This work aims to accommodate the Illinois Tollway’s I-490/Franklin Avenue Interchange Project. Construction signage will be installed to inform drivers of new traffic patterns, while lane closures and temporary driveway impacts will ensure a safe work zone during construction. Updated closure information will be available on the Tollway website in the Daily Construction Alert.

Starting the week of July 7, traffic on Franklin Avenue/Green Street will shift, maintaining a single lane in each direction between York Road and Runge Street. The project will also involve some driveway access restrictions and utility service disruptions at select commercial properties along the corridor. Sidewalks will remain accessible where possible.

The traffic shift and lane closures are necessary for reconstructing the westbound lanes of Franklin Avenue/Green Street and making utility improvements. Work on the eastbound lanes is expected to begin later in 2025, with project completion anticipated in 2026.

This construction is coordinated with Cook County, DuPage County, Village of Bensenville, Village of Franklin Park, Cook County Department of Transportation & Highways, and local fire and police departments. Cook County, in partnership with the Illinois Tollway and local villages, is expanding Franklin Avenue/Green Street to two lanes in each direction. This aligns with ongoing improvements east of Runge Street by the Village of Franklin Park.

The reconstruction supports connections to future ramps at the new I-490 Tollway via the Franklin Avenue Interchange. The project includes a new multi-use path and drainage improvements such as storm sewer installation, watermain upgrades, detention ponds construction, and curb replacement.

The Illinois Tollway is building a full-access interchange connecting I-490 Tollway to Franklin Avenue, providing direct access to Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and enhancing mobility in Bensenville and Franklin Park communities. The multi-phase project involves constructing new interchange ramps at Franklin Avenue, reconstructing Franklin Avenue/Green Street with Cook County collaboration, building part of I-490 Tollway mainline, and improving local road connections for better congestion management.

Construction updates can be found on Cook County’s website at www.cookcountyil.gov or on the Illinois Tollway's website at www.illinoistollway.com under Projects.

In all construction zones, speed limits are enforced 24/7. 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 vehicles with hazard lights activated on the roadside. Penalties for non-compliance include fines up to $25,000 or jail time for hitting a roadway worker.

The Illinois Tollway’s Move Illinois program aims to improve mobility through various projects including this one. The agency operates without state or federal funds across Northern Illinois counties.

Information from this article can be found here.