Prairie State Wire

A traffic shift is set to commence this week on the northbound Tri-State Tollway (I-294) between 135th Street and 131st Street, as bridge repair work continues over the Cal Sag Channel. The Illinois Tollway announced that two nights of overnight lane closures will be necessary to facilitate the shift. Electronic message signs and construction signage will alert drivers to changes in traffic patterns.

Overnight lane closures are scheduled for Wednesday, July 9, and Friday, July 11, with a possibility of additional closures on Thursday, July 10, depending on weather conditions. During these times, traffic on northbound I-294 at the Cal Sag Channel will be reduced to a single lane temporarily. Two lanes of traffic will then be shifted left and two lanes right to create a central work zone. All lanes are expected to reopen by 5 a.m. on weekdays and by 8 a.m. on Saturday.

Once the shift is completed, vehicles exiting to 127th Street or Cicero Avenue must use the right two lanes. Those in the left two lanes cannot exit until reaching 95th Street. This configuration is anticipated to last about two weeks for repairs including bridge joint seal, bridge deck and approach slab repairs, and bearing replacement.

The southbound I-294 repairs have been finalized. Coordination for this project involves the United States Coast Guard, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, and local fire and police departments.

Future work planned by the Illinois Tollway includes projects scheduled for 2025 and 2026 along the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80), such as crossroad bridge repairs at various locations including Waukegan Road on I-94 and others along I-294.

Construction zone speed limits remain enforced around-the-clock in all areas under construction. The Illinois Tollway emphasizes adherence to the "Move Over Law," which mandates motorists change lanes or slow down when passing vehicles with activated hazard lights.

The Move Illinois program is part of a $15 billion capital initiative aimed at improving mobility across Northern Illinois without state or federal funding support.

Information from this article can be found here.