Overnight lane closures coming for Wolf Road, Tri-State Tollway

From staff reports

Temporary, overnight lane closures are scheduled next week on Wolf Road at the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to accommodate bridge beam removal for the reconstruction of the I-294 bridge over Wolf Road in Indian Head Park. This work is part improvements in the I-55 Interchange area to accommodate reconstruction and widening of the Central Tri-State Tollway.

The temporary closures on I-294 are necessary to safely accommodate bridge work on the Tollway. Work will be scheduled during overnight hours to minimize the impact on Tollway customers. Electronic message signs will be in place in advance to alert Tollway drivers to the overnight lane closures. Up-to-date closure information will be available on the Illinois Tollway’s Daily Construction Alert. All work is weather dependent.

On Monday, May 2, on Wolf Road, intermittent, full closures, each lasting 15 minutes, are scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. and be complete by 5 a.m. on Tuesday, May 3. Up to three nights of similar closures will be needed to complete the work.

Local road closures in this area are being coordinated with the Illinois Department of Transportation, Cook Country Department of Transportation and Highways and the Village of Indian Head Park, as well as local fire and police departments.

Construction on bridges and ramps in and around the I-55 Interchange is part of the Tollway’s Central Tri-State Tollway Project. In 2021, the Tollway’s work in the I-55 Interchange area will begin to accommodate the rebuilding and widening of I-294 between 75^th Street and I-55. As part of this work, the ramp connecting I-55 to northbound I-294 will be reconstructed, along with the I-294 bridges over I-55, Wolf Road, Joliet Road and Flagg Creek. Additional work includes the reconstruction of the Plainfield Road Bridge over I-294 and the northbound ramp to the Hinsdale Oasis. Construction in this area is scheduled to be complete in 2025.

The $4 billion Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project is reconstructing and widening the roadway between Balmoral Avenue and 95^th Street to provide congestion relief, update old infrastructure to meet current and future transportation demand and address regional needs. This work is part of the Tollway’s 15-year, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. More than 220,000 vehicles use the Central Tri-State Tollway daily.

Information about the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project is available on the Tollway’s website at www.illinoistollway.com in the Projects section.

Construction zone speed limits are in effect in all construction zones 24/7 and drivers should continue to watch for changing traffic patterns and use caution, especially when workers are present. On Wolf Road, a 25-mph work zone speed limit is in effect. On I-294, a 45-mph work zone speed limit is in effect throughout the construction season.

Illinois State Police have zero tolerance for drivers speeding in work zones or 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 a vehicle on the shoulder with flashing lights includes up to a $10,000 fine, 2-year suspension of driving privileges and jail time, in extreme cases.