The Illinois Department of Transportation announces that overnight lane and ramp closures will take place on the inbound Eisenhower Expressway (Interstate 290) in Chicago on Saturday, May 11, to adjust lane configurations in the work zone as part of the ongoing Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction.

The change to the work zone will accommodate the continued construction of new pavement on the inbound expressway and require reducing Ida B. Wells Drive to one lane for approximately two weeks.

Starting at 11:59 p.m. Saturday, the inbound Eisenhower will be reduced to two lanes between Damen Avenue and the Old Chicago Post Office. At 1 a.m. Sunday, the inbound Eisenhower will be reduced to a single lane, with the inbound Eisenhower ramp to the outbound Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90/94) closing. The inbound Eisenhower ramp to the outbound Kennedy will reopen at one point during the overnight hours, with the inbound Eisenhower ramp to the outbound Dan Ryan Expressway (Interstate 90/94) closing. Detours will be posted while the ramps are closed.

The new traffic configuration will be in effect by 8 a.m. Sunday.

In the new configuration, three inbound Eisenhower lanes will be split near Ashland Avenue. Motorists traveling to Ida B. Wells Drive should stay in the left lane. Motorists traveling to the outbound Kennedy and outbound Dan Ryan should be in the right two lanes. 

Additionally, the inbound Eisenhower as it merges into Ida B. Wells Drive will be reduced to one lane. By May 28, a second lane will reopen, with Ida B. Wells traffic in the two left lanes. 

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.

The overall reconstruction project at the Jane Byrne Interchange will improve safety and traffic flow for the more than 400,000 motorists who use it each day, while also enhancing mobility for bicyclists, pedestrians and transit users in the surrounding neighborhoods. For more information and to view a live camera feed of the work zone, visit www.circleinterchange.org.

Click here to find details on other construction projects in IDOT's District 1. Updates on the impacts to traffic are available at www.travelmidwest.com.

For IDOT District 1 updates on Twitter, follow us at http://twitter.com/IDOTDistrict1.

The Illinois Department of Transportation announces that maintenance work to the Old Chicago Post Office will require overnight lane closures on eastbound Congress Parkway beginning Tuesday, Feb. 26, weather permitting.

Starting tonight, eastbound Congress Parkway will be closed nightly between Halsted and Wells streets from 1 to 5 a.m. Traffic will be detoured to the southbound Dan Ryan Expressway (Interstate 90/94), eastbound 18th Street and northbound State Street to reconnect with Congress Parkway.

The work is expected to be complete by March 2.

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.

Click here to find details on other construction projects in IDOT's District 1. Updates on the impacts to traffic are available at www.travelmidwest.com.

For IDOT District 1 updates on Twitter, follow us at http://twitter.com/IDOTDistrict1.

The Illinois Department of Transportation announces that the placement of beams for the new Monroe Street bridge over Interstate 90/94 (Kennedy Expressway) will require several days of overnight expressway lane and ramp closures starting Tuesday, Feb. 19, weather permitting.

The work will occur in three stages:

Stage 1

• Starting at 10 p.m. next Tuesday and Wednesday, lane closures begin on the southbound Kennedy, with the Jackson Boulevard and Adams Street exit ramps closed. The three right expressway lanes will be closed at 1 a.m. All lanes and ramps reopen by 5 a.m. 

Stage 2

• Starting at 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, and Sunday, Feb 24, lane closures begin on the northbound Kennedy, with the Adams Street and Jackson Boulevard entrance ramps closed. At 11:59 p.m., the two left expressway lanes will be closed. All lanes and ramps reopen by 10 a.m. Sunday and 5 a.m. Monday. 
• Starting at 10 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23 and Sunday, Feb 24 lane closures begin on the southbound Kennedy, with the Randolph Street and Madison Street entrance ramps closed. The Kennedy express lanes will be closed as well. At 1 a.m., the four left lanes will be closed, with all lanes closed intermittently for no more than 15 minutes at Monroe Street until 7 a.m. Sunday and 5 a.m. Monday. All lanes and ramps reopen by 10 a.m. Sunday and 5 a.m. Monday. 

Stage 3

• Starting at 10 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25, and Tuesday, Feb. 26, the left lane of the southbound Kennedy will be closed until 5 a.m. 
• Starting at 10 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25, and Tuesday, Feb. 26, lanes closures begin on the northbound Kennedy, with the Adams Street and Jackson Boulevard entrance ramps closed. At 1 a.m., the four left lanes will be closed, with all lanes closed intermittently for no more than 15 minutes at Monroe Street. All lanes and rams reopen by 5 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. 
• Starting at 1 a.m. Monday, Feb. 25, and Tuesday, Feb. 26, the westbound Eisenhower Expressway (Interstate 290) to northbound Kennedy ramp will be closed until 5 a.m. A detour will direct traffic south on Wells Street, west on Harrison Street, south on Desplaines Street and west on Roosevelt Road to reconnect with the northbound Kennedy.

The Monroe Street bridge is one of several expressway bridge improvement projects included in the Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction. Of those bridges, the following are completed and open to traffic: Halsted Street, Taylor Street, Morgan Street, Harrison Street and Peoria Street. 

The overall reconstruction project at the Jane Byrne Interchange will improve safety and traffic flow for the more than 400,000 motorists who use it each day, while also enhancing mobility for bicyclists, pedestrians and transit users in the surrounding neighborhoods. For more information and to view a live camera feed of the work zone, visit www.circleinterchange.org.

Click here to find details on other construction projects in IDOT's District 1. Updates on the impacts to traffic are available at www.travelmidwest.com.

For IDOT District 1 updates on Twitter, follow us at http://twitter.com/IDOTDistrict1.

 

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced that ramp closures will begin on the outbound Kennedy Expressway (northbound Interstate 90/94), in Chicago, weather permitting, Wednesday, Aug. 1. The ramp closures are necessary for the construction of the Monroe Street bridge over the Kennedy Expressway, part of the ongoing Jane Byrne Interchange project.

Starting Wednesday, the entrance ramp from Adams Street to the outbound Kennedy Expressway will reopen to traffic. Upon the reopening of the Adams Street entrance ramp, the following ramp closures will take place:

 

• The exit ramp from the northbound Kennedy to Madison Street will be closed until Summer 2019.
  • A posted detour for eastbound Madison Street traffic will direct traffic to exit the northbound Kennedy Expressway at Washington Street, go east on Washington Street and south on Des Plaines Avenue to eastbound Madison Street.
  • A posted detour for westbound Madison Street traffic will direct traffic to exit the Kennedy at Randolph Street, go west on Randolph Street and south on Halsted Street to westbound Madison Street.

 

• The entrance ramp from Jackson Street to the northbound Kennedy Expressway will be closed until Fall 2018.
  • A posted detour will direct traffic to enter the northbound Kennedy Expressway via Adams Street.

 

The Monroe Street bridge is one of several expressway bridge improvement projects included in the overall Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction. Of those bridges, the following are completed and open to traffic: Halsted Street, Taylor Street, Morgan Street, Harrison Street and Peoria Street.

The overall reconstruction project at the Jane Byrne Interchange will improve safety and traffic flow for the more than 400,000 motorists who use it each day, while also enhancing mobility for bicyclists, pedestrians and transit users in the surrounding neighborhoods.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced that ramp closures will take place to and from the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90/94), in Chicago, beginning, weather permitting, Sunday, June 10.

The ramp closures are necessary for the construction of the Monroe Street bridge, part of the overall Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction project. To complete the work, the following ramp closures will take place, weather permitting:

• Beginning at 10 p.m. Sunday, June 10, the Madison Street entrance ramp to the inbound Kennedy Expressway (southbound I-90/94) will be fully closed until Thursday, August 9. A posted detour will direct westbound Madison Street traffic to go north on Jefferson Street and west on Randolph Street to access the inbound Kennedy Expressway. Eastbound Madison Street traffic should go north on Halsted Street and east on Lake Street to access the inbound Kennedy.

 

• Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, June 15, the Adams Street entrance ramp to the outbound Kennedy Expressway (northbound I-90/94) will be closed until Monday, July 16. A posted detour will direct westbound Adams Street traffic to go north on Jefferson Street and west on Madison Street to access the outbound Kennedy.

 

• Beginning June 11, the Monroe Street exit ramp from the inbound Kennedy Expressway will be closed until June 15. A posted detour will direct traffic to exit the expressway via Adams Street, go westbound on Adams Street and northbound on Halsted Street to meet back with Monroe Street.

 

• Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, June 15, the Adams Street exit ramp from the inbound Kennedy Expressway will be closed until August 2018. A posted detour will direct traffic to exit the expressway via Monroe Street, travel west on Monroe Street and south on Halsted Street to meet back with Adams Street.

The Monroe Street bridge is one of several expressway bridge improvement projects included in the overall Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction. Of those bridges, the following are completed and open to traffic: Halsted Street, Taylor Street, Morgan Street, Harrison Street and Peoria Street.

The overall reconstruction project at the Jane Byrne Interchange will improve safety and traffic flow for the more than 400,000 motorists who use it each day, while also enhancing mobility for bicyclists, pedestrians and transit users in the surrounding neighborhoods.

 

The collaboration, investment, and green initiatives on the Jane Byrne (Circle) Interchange (JBI) has set the stage for a brighter future not only for the motoring public, but for the multimodal access and local cross road connections throughout the corridor.  To keep pace with developing needs and expectations of the public to produce sustainable outcomes, the planning, design and construction of the JBI reconstruction and local cross roads included sustainable and green initiatives.

 

Drive for Vision

October 2009 marked the completion of the Circle Interchange Master Plan study.   One component of the Master Study was the Circle Interchange – I-290 and I-90/94 system interchange.  Through a series of workshops, vision statements were developed included strong views toward:

• Create a strong feeling that you are in a globally significant place
  
  
• Art and aesthetics that announce your arrival into Downtown Chicago
  
  
• Planned maintenance resulting in clean, well-lit and well-maintained environment
  
  
• “This gateway says Chicago”
  
  
• Progressive in sustainability and greening of urban highway environments
  
  
• For all that move through the space, they should feel (and be) calm and safe
  
  
• Improve signage, wayfinding and connectivity
  
  

• Explore and utilize new technology where intelligent and appropriate

Specific elements that were explored as part of the Master Plan included a landscape plan, hardscape concepts, edge treatments, decorative concrete barrier wall, gore treatments, vines on existing retaining walls, knee walls, trellised screens, decorative fencing, architectural panels and lighting.

 

Project Development

In May 2012, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) began engineering studies for the future rehabilitation of JBI. The study was a two-year planning and design project that took a comprehensive look at the transportation needs within the Kennedy/Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) and Eisenhower (I-290) interchange with a focus on safety and operation of the JBI. 

The JBI is critical to the nation’s transportation system, particularly for freight movement on our Interstate and arterial roadways.  The JBI serves as a vital hub for local, regional, and nations freight traffic.  Built more than 50 years ago, the JBI has not had a major rehabilitation since its initial construction.  High traffic volumes, single lane ramps and tight curves make the JBI prone to congestion which causes it to operate under breakdown conditions for most of the day.  Throughout this study the vision created from the Master Plan was the guiding light for community cohesion, community context, safety, maintenance and sustainability.

 

Balancing Needs

The purpose of the project is to provide an improved transportation facility at the interchange of Interstate 90/94 and Interstate 290/Congress Parkway by addressing the existing and 2040 transportation needs. This will be accomplished by improving safety, mobility, and facility condition and deficiencies of the mainline and interchange, while minimizing social, economic and environmental impacts.

While the JBI itself addresses the movement of vehicles on the expressway system, this project also improves the other modes of transportation’s sharing the same space, such as transit, pedestrians and bicyclists.

 

Community Input Was Valued

IDOT understood from the beginning that community input was important to ensuring that viable sustainable alternatives were consistent with community goals and objectives.  To provide a forum for discussion and information exchange about the planning and design of the JBI, IDOT established a Project Working Group (PWG).

The PWG’s purpose was to provide input throughout the project development process.  In addition, the PWG played a key role in developing a unified sustainable vision for the communities, and a timeless look and feel for the motoring public travelling through the JBI.

Goal of the overall project was to address transportation system deficiencies, address safety, and increase mobility, but to also create a safe environment for all users that is consistent with surrounding community elements and is cohesive with the overall vision of the interchange area.

 

Project Benefits

• Improved safety features reducing crash potential
  
  
• Additional roadway capacity
  
  
• Improved roadway geometrics to current standards
  
  
• Congestion relief thus reducing emissions and improved air quality
  
  
• Improved bicycle safety
  
  
• Bicycle lanes in accordance with the City’s master bikeway plan
  
  
• Wider sidewalks (typically 10’) to improve pedestrian movements
  
  
• Redesigned ramp entrances that are friendlier to pedestrians
  
  
• Generated 5,000 jobs for the community
  
  
• Spur further development in the project area
  
  
• Created area-wide and region-wide economic benefits
  
  
• Improved multimodal access and connections throughout the corridor

  

Green Initiative Items

• Construction of noise abatement walls
  
  
• Re-use of suitable topsoil and embankment excavated on-site
  
  
• Installation of interchange signage utilizing retro-reflective sheeting (thus eliminating need for separate under-sign lighting)
  
  
• Use of recycled materials including specifying percentage of materials such as fly-ash and demolished pavements.
  
  
• Protection of natural habitats using sediment control and prevention plan
  
  
• The use of erosion control measures to reduce and collect soil run-of
  
  
• The use of durable/salt-tolerant/winter-hardy plants and hardscape materials near and under roadways and bridges
  
  
• Using no-mow/low mow/low maintenance grasses and plantings at landscaped areas
  
  
• Use of erosion control measures to reduce and collect soil run-off
  
  
• Use of swales to utilize existing flows for landscaping maintenance
  
  
• Potential use of Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP’s) including the use of rain barrels, rain cisterns, landscaped rain gardens, and/or shallow detention beds.
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
  

 

•  
  
  

 

The Illinois Department of Transportation announces that an estimated two-year closure will take place on the ramp that carries traffic from the inbound Kennedy Expressway (southbound Interstate 90/94) to eastbound Congress Parkway beginning Monday, Jan. 15, weather permitting.

 

The closure is necessary to complete road and bridge construction, part of the ongoing Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction project.

Beginning Jan. 15, the ramp from the inbound Kennedy to inbound Congress Parkway will be fully closed for approximately two years. A posted detour will direct southbound I-90/94 traffic to continue south and exit at Taylor Street. Motorists should go east on Taylor Street, north on Jefferson Street, east on Harrison Street and north on Wells Street to access eastbound Congress Parkway.

The ramp closure will allow for construction of a new ramp from the inbound Kennedy to inbound Congress, as well construction on the eastbound Congress Parkway bridge over the Kennedy and Dan Ryan expressways and the replacement of the Van Buren Street bridge.

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.

 

 

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that an extended bridge closure will take place on Monroe Street between Halsted Street and Des Plaines Avenue to reconstruct the Monroe Street bridge over the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90/94), in Chicago, beginning, weather permitting, Monday, Feb. 26. The bridge reconstruction project is part of the ongoing Jane Byrne Interchange project.

Beginning Monday, the structure that carries Monroe Street over Interstate 90/94 will be fully closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. A posted detour will direct westbound Monroe Street vehicle traffic to go south on Des Plaines Avenue, west on Adams Street, and north on Halsted Street to meet back with Monroe Street. Eastbound Monroe Street traffic should go north on Halsted Street, east on Madison Street and south on Des Plaines Avenue to meet back with Monroe Street. Pedestrians should use the Madison Street bridge.

Expected to open in Summer 2019, the new structure will have two lanes in each direction, as well as sidewalks on both sides of the bridge. The scope of the project includes total reconstruction of the Monroe Street bridge over the Kennedy Expressway. It also includes new retaining walls, lighting and traffic signal enhancements.

The Monroe Street bridge is one of several expressway bridge improvement projects included in the overall Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction. Of those bridges, the following are completed and open to traffic: Halsted Street, Taylor Street, Morgan Street, Harrison Street and Peoria Street.

The overall reconstruction project at the Jane Byrne Interchange will improve safety and traffic flow for the more than 400,000 motorists who use it each day, while also enhancing mobility for bicyclists, pedestrians and transit users in the surrounding neighborhoods.

December 10^th overnight lane and ramp closures WB I-290 and the Flyover Bridge

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that overnight lane and ramp closures will take place on the outbound Eisenhower Expressway (westbound Interstate 290) and the flyover bridge that carries traffic from the inbound Dan Ryan Expressway (northbound Interstate 90/94) to the outbound Eisenhower beginning Sunday, Dec. 10, weather permitting. The closures are necessary to complete a traffic stage change, part of the ongoing Jane Byrne Interchange Project.

Starting at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, the outbound Eisenhower Expressway will be reduced to one lane between the Post Office and Racine Avenue until 7 a.m.

Starting at 1 a.m. Sunday, the flyover ramp from the inbound Dan Ryan to the outbound Eisenhower will be closed until 7 a.m. A posted detour will direct traffic to continue on the inbound Dan Ryan, exit at Augusta Avenue, re-enter the inbound Kennedy Expressway (southbound Interstate 90/94) and use the exit ramp to the outbound Eisenhower.

In the new traffic pattern, motorists traveling the flyover ramp from the inbound Dan Ryan to the outbound Eisenhower will shift onto the newly-constructed pavement on the outbound Eisenhower between Peoria Street and Racine Avenue. Two lanes will remain open on the outbound Eisenhower between Wells Street and Racine Avenue.

This lane configuration will allow for the completion of drainage work between Morgan Street and Peoria Street, as well as the construction of new pavement from Peoria Street to Racine Avenue.

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.

 

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that lane and ramp closures will take place this weekend on the inbound Eisenhower Expressway (eastbound Interstate 290) in Chicago as part of the ongoing Jane Byrne Interchange Project beginning Friday, Sept. 15, weather permitting.

The closures are necessary to place beams for the new ramp that will carry traffic from the inbound Dan Ryan Expressway (northbound Interstate 90/94) to eastbound Congress Parkway. The new ramp will arch over the existing ramp from the inbound Eisenhower to the outbound Kennedy Expressway (northbound Interstate 90/94).

To complete the work, the following closures will take place on the inbound Eisenhower: 

• Starting at 10 p.m. Friday, three lanes will be closed on the inbound Eisenhower Expressway between Racine Avenue and Halsted Street. The lanes will reopen by 2 a.m. Saturday.

• Starting at 10 p.m. Friday, the ramp from the inbound Eisenhower to the outbound Kennedy will be closed until 4 a.m. Monday, Sept. 18. A posted detour will direct traffic to take the outbound Dan Ryan (Interstate 90/94), exit at 18th Street to re-enter the inbound Dan Ryan.

• Starting at midnight Sunday, Sept. 17, three lanes will be closed on the inbound Eisenhower between Racine Avenue and Halsted Street. All lanes will reopen by 4 a.m. Monday, Sept. 18.

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.