When the project is completed in 2007, the Tri-State will have four lanes >> in>> each direction between Illinois Highway 394 in the south suburbs and the>> road's intersection with Interstate Highway 190 near O'Hare International>> Airport, agency spokeswoman Jan Kemp said.>>

The construction kicks off the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority's >> $5.3>> billion road building plan funded by a toll increase that went into >> effect>> Jan. 1.>>

The tollway project is intended to provide smooth sailing for motorists >> who>> use the highway, the agency's busiest. But first they will have to endure>> the construction.>>

The first phase, expected to cost $307.7 million, will be on a 5.4-mile>> stretch from Illinois 394 to 167th Street.>>

The second phase will cover 11.4 miles and run from 167th Street to 95th>> Street. Preparatory work on that project, expected to cost about $362>> million, could begin this summer, Kemp said.>>

There already are four lanes in each direction on the Tri-State between >> 95th>> Street and I-190. The long-term capital plan calls for widening the >> northern>> part of the Tri-State, starting in 2007.>

The 16-mile section of the Tri-State between 95th Street and I-190 was> > widened to 8 lanes (from 6) in the mid-1990s, and the long viaduct> > sections were almost doubled in total width, as the original bridges had> > 3 lanes each way and shoulders about 2 feet wide, and the widened and> > rebuilt bridges have 4 lanes each way and 10-foot shoulders to the left> > and right of each roadway. The project cost over $500 million, and was> > nicely done, and a big improvement.> >

Question: What is the status of I-80/I-94 east of IL-394? Will that> > receive 8-lane widening to make it seamless with an 8-lane I-80/I-94 in> > Indiana?>

http://www.kingerye­xpressway.com/>

Question: What is the status of I-80/I-94 east of IL-394? Will that> > receive 8-lane widening to make it seamless with an 8-lane I-80/I-94 in> > Indiana?>

"Scott M. Kozel" <kozelsm@comcast.ne­t> wrote:>>

Yes. Currently the section between Calumet Avenue (U.S. 41 North) and>> Kennedy Avenue is complete. The section around Cline Ave (SR-912) has >> been>> complete for a couple years. They're currently working the section >> between>> Burr, Grant and Broadway (SR-53). The interchanges at Grant and Broadway>> are being converted to INDOT typical 6 ramp partial cloverleafs. That>> section has a couple different crossovers. For some time all traffic is >> on>> the Eastbound side, and other times it's all on the Westbound side.>>

Currently it is 3 lanes in each direction with the newly completed >> sections>> having auxillary lanes between interchanges. When IL finishes the >> Kingery,>> INDOT will open the 4th lane (which appears to be part of the current >> center>> median) between Calumet Ave and Cline Ave, but will not open the 4th lane>> between Cline Ave and I-65 until the section between Broadway and I-65 is>> completed closer to 2008. The final configuration will be 4 lanes in >> each>> direction with continuous auxillary lanes between interchanges from >> Calumet>> Ave to I-65, where I-94 will reduce to 3 lanes in each direction.>>

I'm excited to see how the traffic will flow in this stretch when it is>> completed. This configuration is exactly the same configuration that >> MoDOT>> has on I-270 between I-70 and Big Bend Blvd and between I-44 and I-55 and >> on>> SR-364 between I-270 and Arena Pkwy/Upper Bottom Rd.>

Thanks for the summary! Does anyone know the large truck percentage on> > I-80/I-94 in Indiana? My estimate is that 1/3 of the about 150,000> > vehicles per day is large trucks. Incredibly busy truck route.>

Poor visibility shouldn't have been a factor in that accident if it was> > on the section between IL 56 and Orchard Road. Tollway users should > > always be on the alert for stopped traffic due to toll booth congestion> > and plain old road congestion, regardless of road construction status.> > Agreed, effective WZ signage should be employed at all work sites.> > Maybe those new IL $375 WZ fines will make drivers more attentive, too.>

I've taken to using the hazard flashers if I'm on the tail end of a>>stop and go. Picked it up in Europe. For some reason drivers vapor lock>>in those situations even when there is adequate stopping room.>