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RAMP SCHEDULED TO REOPEN TODAY AT THE GRAND AVENUE INTERCHANGE ON THE TRI-STATE TOLLWAY (I-94) IN GURNEE

May 01, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Joelle McGinnis

May 1, 2015

630-241-6800 ext. 2380
jmcginnis@getipass.com

RAMP SCHEDULED TO REOPEN TODAY AT THE GRAND AVENUE INTERCHANGE ON THE TRI-STATE TOLLWAY (I-94) IN GURNEE

All lanes on the ramp to Six Flags Great America also scheduled to reopen for weekend DOWNERS GROVE, IL – The ramp carrying traffic from eastbound Grand Avenue to the westbound Tri-State Tollway (I-94) in Gurnee is scheduled to reopen today, May 1, as part of the $19.4 million Grand Avenue Interchange Project. As construction continues, additional ramp work will require a lane reduction on eastbound I-94 beginning next week.

The ramp carrying traffic from eastbound Grand Avenue to westbound I-94 is scheduled to reopen this afternoon before the evening commute and the detour route will be removed. Daily shoulder closures will continue on the ramp through June in order to complete reconstruction. More than 1,000 vehicles use this ramp daily.

In addition, this weekend the Tollway will provide two lanes on the ramp carrying westbound I-94 to eastbound Grand Avenue in anticipation of Six Flags Great America’s reopening for the season. The ramp is currently reduced to one lane for construction. The lane will reclose during the week of May 4, before reopening permanently in mid-May. All work on the ramp is expected to be complete in June.

During the week of May 4, work is scheduled to continue on the ramp carrying traffic from eastbound Grand Avenue to eastbound I-94 and on the ramp carrying traffic from westbound Grand Avenue to eastbound I-94. Traffic on eastbound I-94 between Rosencrans Road and Washington Street is scheduled to be reduced from four lanes to three for approximately a month to accommodate this work. Westbound I-94 between Washington Street and Grand Avenue is currently shifted. This configuration will remain in place into the summer.

In addition, in mid-May, a traffic shift will be scheduled on the ramp from westbound Grand Avenue to eastbound I-94 for pavement work. The work is scheduled for completion this summer.

Construction information about the Grand Avenue Interchange Project is available in the “Projects by Roadway” section in the Construction/Planning section on the Tollway’s website at www.illinoistollway.com.

The project is being coordinated with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the village of Gurnee, Lake County, local fire and police departments, as well as the Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Six Flags Great America, Gurnee Mills Mall and Key Lime Cove.

Work Zone Safety A 25 mph speed limit is in effect 24/7 on ramps in the construction zone whether or not workers are present. In addition, a 30 mph speed limit will be in place on Grand Avenue and a 45 mph speed limit will be in place on I-94. Drivers should continue to watch for changing traffic patterns and use caution at all times.

Illinois State Police have zero tolerance for drivers speeding in work zones. The minimum penalty for speeding in a work zone is $375. Posted signs advise drivers of a $10,000 fine and 14-year jail sentence for hitting a roadway worker.

Grand Avenue (Illinois Route 132) Interchange Project The $19.4 million Grand Avenue (Illinois Route 132) Interchange Project includes rebuilding seven of the eight ramps that make up the interchange with work scheduled to be complete in 2015. The project includes replacement of existing ramps to extend the life of the interchange and provide smooth pavement for drivers. In addition, several of the ramps will be realigned and widened, allowing traffic to flow more freely.

In 2015, three ramps at the Grand Avenue Interchange will be reconstructed, including the ramps from westbound I-94 to eastbound Grand Avenue and from westbound Grand Avenue to eastbound I-94, as well as the ramp from eastbound Grand Avenue to westbound I-94 which will be closed with a detour during construction. Ramp improvements include removing and replacing concrete pavement and asphalt shoulders.

In addition, the project includes the installation of a ramp detection system along westbound I-94 to monitor congestion on the exit ramp to Grand Avenue. When completed, the system will alert motorists to potential traffic backups ahead.

In 2014, the Tollway completed work on four ramps, including the ramps carrying I-94 traffic in both directions to westbound Grand Avenue and the ramps carrying westbound Grand Avenue traffic to westbound I-94 and eastbound Grand Avenue to eastbound I-94. The ramp carrying traffic from Grand Avenue to eastbound I-94 was reconstructed as part of the rebuilding and widening of I-94 completed in 2009.

The Grand Avenue (Illinois Route 132) Interchange Project on the Tri-State Tollway (I-94) is part of the 15-year, $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. More than 40,000 vehicles use this interchange daily.

Illinois Tollway Keeps Drivers Informed The Tollway offers the following ways for drivers to get the latest travel information before they get on the road:
www.illinoistollway.com – Construction/Planning section, Tollway Trip Calculator, live roadway images and real-time roadway incident information

1-800-TOLL-FYI – Daily lane closure and travel information

www.travelmidwest.com – Real-time travel times

www.twitter.com – Real-time roadway incident information at Tollway Trip 90, Tollway Trip 88, Tollway Trip 355 and Tollway Trip 94/294

About Move Illinois The Illinois Tollway’s 15-year, $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois:

The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, will improve mobility, relieve congestion, reduce pollution, create as many as 120,000 jobs and link economies across the Midwest region. Move Illinois will address the remaining needs of the existing Tollway system; rebuild and widen the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) as a state-of-the-art 21st century corridor; construct a new interchange to connect the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to I-57; build a new, all-electronic Elgin O’Hare Western Access and fund planning studies for the Illinois Route 53/120 Project, Illiana Expressway and other emerging projects.

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 286 miles of interstate tollways 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) and the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80).

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