Construction Projects

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 21, 2023
RAMP CLOSURE, DETOUR SCHEDULED ON I-290 AS PART OF
NORTH AVENUE INTERCHANGE RECONSTRUCTION
Closure of ramp from westbound I-290 to eastbound North Avenue/Lake Street for Cook County road and bridge work supporting Illinois Tollway projects
DOWNERS GROVE, IL – A weekend-long closure of the ramp from westbound I-290 to eastbound North Avenue/Lake Street is scheduled for this weekend for storm sewer work. A detour will be posted.
The detour is needed to complete storm sewer construction across the ramp as part of the North Avenue and Lake Street rehabilitation project led by the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways. The project is located in the cities of Elmhurst and Northlake and will accommodate the Illinois Tollway’s North Avenue Interchange Project on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294).
Electronic message signs and construction signage will be put in place to alert drivers in advance of the closure and detour. Up-to-date closure information will be posted on the Tollway website in the Daily Construction Alert. All work is weather dependent.
Beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 24, the ramp from westbound I-290 to eastbound North Avenue/Lake Street is scheduled to close. A detour will be posted routing traffic to continue westbound on I-290 to Illinois Route 83, through the interchange to eastbound I-290 to North Avenue for access to eastbound North Avenue/Lake Street and the northbound I-294 ramp. This detour is scheduled to remain in place through 5 a.m. on Monday, March 27.
In addition, the right lane on eastbound Lake Street will be closed in conjunction with the detour.
North Avenue Interchange Project on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) - page 2
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Construction in this area is being coordinated with Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways, the Illinois Department of Transportation, the City of Elmhurst and the City of Northlake, as well as local fire and police departments.
Construction updates, project information, maps and detour information for work that is part of the North Avenue Interchange Project at I-294 are available in the Projects section on the Tollway’s website at www.illinoistollway.com, as well as on the Cook County construction project webpage at maps.cookcountyil.gov/hwyproject.
Ongoing lane closures and traffic shifts are scheduled to continue over the next two years on these local roadways to allow Cook County to complete the roadway improvements which includes pavement reconstruction, bridge work, watermain reconstruction, drainage installation, and traffic signal modifications.
The project will include work to realign a portion of County Line Road to accommodate the reconstruction and widening of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and for the North Avenue Interchange Project that includes construction of a new ramp connecting southbound I-294 to County Line Road to provide new access to North Avenue and Lake Street to help reduce congestion at the interchange and on local roads.
In addition, the North Avenue and Lake Street (U.S. Route 20) intersection will be reconfigured to improve traffic flow and provide new direct access to eastbound North Avenue. Drainage improvements are planned to help alleviate flooding in the area during periods of heavy rainfall. Construction of detention ponds to hold stormwater and the installation of new storm sewers will help address flooding along North Avenue.
In partnership with the Illinois Tollway and cities of Northlake and Elmhurst, Cook County is leading the project's design and will be constructing the project improvements. This work is in coordination with the
North Avenue Interchange Project on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) - page 3
Illinois Tollway’s 15 year, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future.
Work Zone Safety
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.
The Illinois Tollway reminds motorists that the “Move Over Law” requires motorists to change lanes or to slow down and proceed with caution when passing any vehicle on the side of the road with hazard lights activated. If you see flashing lights ahead, please move over or slow down.
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.
About Move Illinois
The Illinois Tollway’s 15-year, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, is improving mobility, relieving congestion, reducing pollution, creating as many as 152,000 jobs and linking economies throughout the region. The first 11 years of Move Illinois are on schedule and within budget, delivering the rebuilt and widened Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) as a state-of- the-art 21st century corridor and opening a new interchange connecting the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to I-57. Progress continues on projects addressing the remaining needs of the existing Tollway system, delivering the Elgin O’Hare Western Access Project and reconstruction of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294).
About the Illinois Tollway
The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 294 miles of roadways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80) and the Illinois Route 390 Tollway.
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Mid-December 2022 Update:  IDOT permitted the closure of Franklin Avenue at the I-294 Overpass to allow Canadian Pacific Railroad to remove and replace the existing railroad tracks, accommodating a new 5 lane wide roadway section.  The track replacements have been completed, and Canadian Pacific is currently completing installation of new railroad signals.  This work was scheduled to be completed by mid-December, but due to material supply chain delays it has been extended to an expected completion for mid-January 2023.  We apologize for this inconvenience and hope to resume normal traffic patterns through these crossings as soon as it is safe to do so.

Franklin Avenue will be continue to be closed to through traffic until further notice at I-294 and diverted as shown in the detour map.  Local traffic will be able to access the project area and all driveways will have access through the following routes:

• If your driveway is located west of I-294, trucks will only be able to access your business via Wolf Road.
• If your driveway is located east of I-294, trucks will only be able to access your business via Williams Drive.

In early 2023, it is expected that ComEd will be relocating Electrical facilities on the north side of Franklin Avenue from Acorn Lane to east of Wolf Road and from I-294 to Williams Drive.  Additionally, the General Contractor for Franklin Avenue will be moving forward with construction of new box culverts at the north side ditch from Wolf Road to the Canadian Pacific Intermodal Terminal Gate 4, and new construction of a retaining wall from Canadian Pacific Intermodal Terminal Gate 4 to I-294.  Roadway reconstruction on the north side of Franklin Avenue is expected to resume in Spring of 2023.  Two way traffic will be allowed on the south side of Franklin Avenue for the entirety of 2023.

CONSTRUCTION NOTICE

Franklin Avenue Reconstruction Project

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has contracted with Plote Construction, Inc. to construct the Franklin Avenue Reconstruction Project. This project consists of reconstruction and widening of Franklin Avenue from Runge Street to the Mannheim Road bridge, and reconstruction of Williams Drive from Belmont Avenue to Franklin Avenue.  This project includes a new closed storm sewer system, water main installation, traffic signal improvements, new roadway lighting, a multi-use pedestrian path, signs, landscaping, and pavement markings.

The Contractor is scheduled to begin construction of temporary traffic signals and pavement widening in late May 2022.  Major construction activity is scheduled to begin this summer and will continue throughout the next two years.  The overall completion date is anticipated to occur in the summer of 2024. 

 A summary of anticipated major activities includes the following:

Temporary Roadway Widening: Summer 2022

Canadian Pacific Railway Crossing Replacement: Fall 2022

Stage 1 (Utilities/Roadway work on North Franklin and East Williams): Fall 2022 thru Summer 2023

Stage 2 (Utilities/Roadway work at center lane of Franklin and Williams): Summer 2023

Stage 3 (Utilities/Roadway work on South Franklin and West Williams): Summer 2023 thru Winter 2023

Stage 4 (Final Paving of all areas and Traffic Signals): Spring 2024

The Contractor is required to maintain an 11’ thru lane in each direction during construction except during the Canadian Pacific Railway crossing replacement. Franklin Avenue will be closed to thru traffic from Silver Creek to the Industrial Park from October 24 to December 18 to complete track and signal replacement.  Local traffic will be able to access the project area and all driveways will have access.

We understand that this project will be very intrusive to businesses and truck drivers throughout this corridor.  There are provisions in the contract to maintain dock access, and short duration restrictions will be required at times.  The engineering staff will coordinate this work with business owners at least 14 days before work begins to make prior arrangements. 

Questions or Concerns

The Village of Franklin Park is aware of the disruption and inconvenience that will be caused and appreciates your patience and cooperation during this construction project. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the Consulting Resident Engineer, Kevin Wilson at (847) 833-0274 or the Village’s Senior Project Manager, Jimmy Samaniego at (630) 272-3401.

"Franklin Avenue Project Limits"

The Franklin Avenue Roadway Reconstruction Project continues to proceed with construction of utility relocations before Temporary Pavement can be constructed.  Beginning on 9/1, the Contractor will construct Temporary Pavement Widening of the south side of Franklin Avenue from Runge to Williams.  The construction of Temporary Pavement uses Concrete materials which will require driveway closures for a period of 3-4 days.  We are coordinating access with businesses in advance of this work to limit inconveniences.  The construction of Temporary Pavement should be complete by mid-September.  Once this is complete, a new traffic pattern will be installed and the installation of new Storm Sewers will begin and continue through Winter 2022-2023

Elgin O'Hare Western Access (EOWA) 

https://www.illinoistollway.com/projects/eowa/eowa-corridor-overview

IDOT Construction Projects

https://www.gettingaroundillinois.com/RoadConstruction/index.html