A look at some of the major roadway projects in the Chicago area.
Here is a list of some of the major road construction projects in the Chicago area this year.
Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project
Estimated cost: $4 billion
Project start: Underway
Estimated completion: End of 2026
Work being done: Between Balmoral Avenue in Rosemont and 95th Street in Oak Lawn: Widening and reconstructing the roadway and bridges, and reconfiguring interchanges.
Reconstruction between St. Charles Road and Wolf Road at the north end of the corridor, and between 95th Street and I-55 at the south end of the corridor.
Wolf Road to the O’Hare Oasis: Roadway rehabilitation and widening.
Archer Avenue Interchange: Under reconstruction.
A new BNSF bridge is being built.
I-2 9 0 /I-8 8 : Reconstruction of a new interchange.
Impact on traffic: New traffic patterns and temporary lane closures.
I-490 Tollway
Estimated cost: $3.4 billion
Project start: Underway
Estimated completion: End of 2025
Work being done: Construction continues on new interchanges that will link I-490 to the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), the Illinois Route 390 Tollway and to I-294, which will provide western access into O’Hare International Airport.
Touhy Reservoir at the north end of I-4 9 0 : Railroad track access relocation and bridge construction.
Impact on traffic: Off-peak closures on I-90, Touhy Road and Mount Prospect Road will be scheduled as needed throughout the year.
On westbound I-9 0 , the right shoulder is closed from the Union Pacific Railroad to Elmhurst Road through the end of the year.
I-294/I-57 Interchange (Phase 2)
Estimated cost: $78 million
Project start: Underway
Estimated completion: 2022
Work being done: Northbound I-294 to northbound I-57 and southbound I-57 to northbound I-294: New connecting interchange ramps.
Roadway widening on I-5 7.
Impact on traffic: Southbound I-294: Reduced to three lanes through summer 2021.
I-5 7 between the CSX Railroad and Kedzie Avenue: Right shoulder is closed in both directions through summer 2 0 2 1 .
Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88)
Project start: Underway
Estimated completion: End of 2021
Work being done: Deerpath Road Bridge, Aurora: Removal and rebuilding of the bridge.
Windsor Road Bridge, Oak Brook: A new bridge will be built at I-8 8 and I-2 9 4 .
I-8 8 between the Aurora Toll Plaza and Illinois Route 5 9 : Repaving.
Impact on traffic: Deerpath Road Bridge is closed through the end of 2021. A detour is posted.
Eastbound I-294: Traffic is shifted, and shoulders are closed in both directions.
Windsor Drive Bridge: Reduced to a single lane through the spring. Additional closures can be expected on Windsor Drive.
Shoulders on the ramps connecting I-8 8 and I-2 9 4 : Closed. Traffic is shifted.
Stearns School Road Bridge over the Tri-State Tollway (I-94)
Estimated cost: $5.4 million
Project start: Underway
Estimated completion: 2022
Work being done: Removal and replacement of the Gurnee bridge.
Impact on traffic: Stearns School Road Bridge: Closed through the end of the yearn. A detour is posted.
I-9 4 : Reduced to three lanes in both directions at the bridge through May.
Jane Byrne Interchange
Project start: Underway
Estimated completion: End of 2022
Work being done: Jackson Street and Adams Street bridges replaced.
Inbound and outbound I-90/94: Reconstruction and addition of a new inbound collector-distributor road.
Impact on traffic: The bridges closed in 2020.
Montrose Avenue over the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) bridge rehabilitation
Project start: Underway
Estimated completion: Summer 2021
Work being done: Installation of new steel beams and construction of bridge deck on the north structure.
Impact on traffic: Access to the CTA is maintained. Motorists can expect lane reductions and overnight traffic stops.
Kennedy Expressway (I-90) at Cumberland Avenue
Project start: Underway
Estimated completion: Fall 2021
Work being done: I-90 between Harlem Avenue and I-190: Widening and resurfacing, construction of new noise and retaining walls, drainage improvements and a new collector-distributor road at the Cumberland Avenue interchange along the outbound expressway.
Impact on traffic: Expect overnight lane closures.
Outbound Kennedy Expressway (I-90) resurfacing
Project start: Underway
Estimated completion: End of 2021
Work being done: I-90 from the Edens Expressway (I-94) junction to Harlem Avenue (Illinois 43): Road resurfacing, installation of shoulder rumble strips and drainage improvements.
Impact on traffic: Overnight outbound lane closures will take place weekdays, starting at 9 p.m., with occasional ramp and inbound lane closures. All lanes and ramps will reopen by 5 a.m. each morning.
I-80 and U.S. 30 Interchange
Project start: Underway
Estimated completion: End of 2021
Work being done: I-80 from about I-355 through U.S. 30, New Lenox: Widening and reconstruction to three lanes in each direction.
Along U.S. 3 0 : Modernized traffic signals, drainage improvement, and the extension of a bicycle and pedestrian path.
Impact on traffic: Two lanes in each direction on I-80 remain open during construction.
I-55 and Weber Road Interchange
Project start: Underway
Estimated completion: 2022
Work being done: Weber Road between 135th Street/Romeo Road and 119th Street/ Rodeo Road, Romeoville: Addition of a third lane in each direction, modernized traffic signals, LED lighting, improved drainage and a barrier median.
Impact on traffic: Expect periodic overnight lane closures, as needed, from approximately 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., through the end of the project.
I-55 at Madison Street (DuPage County)
Estimated cost: $1.9 million
Project start: Summer 2021
Estimated completion: Late 2023
Work being done: Deck overlay and bridge repairs, Burr Ridge.
Impact on traffic: Occasional overnight lane closures.
I-55 at Lemont Road (DuPage County)
Estimated cost: $17 million
Project start: Summer 2021
Estimated completion: Fall 2023
Work being done: Bridge replacement and interstate reconstruction, Woodridge.
Impact on traffic: All lanes of I-55 and access to Lemont Road will be maintained during the project.
Illinois 83 (Kingery Highway) from Third Avenue to Illinois 171 (Archer Avenue) in DuPage County
Estimated cost: $1 million
Project start: Underway
Estimated completion: Summer 2021
Work being done: Modernize traffic signals, install rumble strips, add new pavement markings and replace sections of guardrail.
Impact on traffic: Daily lane closures and occasional overnight lane closures are anticipated.
Illinois 31 (Lake Street) from Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) to Rathbone Avenue (Kane County)
Estimated cost: $2.8 million
Project start: Spring 2021
Estimated completion: Fall 2021
Work being done: Pavement preservation resurfacing and ADA improvements.
Impact on traffic: Daily lane closures.
Illinois 31 (State Street) from Strom Drive to West Road (Kane County)
Estimated cost: $4 million
Project start: Spring 2021
Estimated completion: Fall 2021
Work being done: New ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps, improve drainage and make repairs to the State Street bridge over U.S. 20 (Elgin Bypass).
Impact on traffic: Daily lane closures.
Illinois 47 at Main Street (Kane County)
Estimated cost: $9.8 million
Project start: Spring 2021
Estimated completion: Summer 2022
Work being done: Replace existing bridge, reconstruct the intersection and modernize traffic signals in Sugar Grove.
Impact on traffic: One lane will be maintained in each direction.
Illinois 72 (Oak Knoll Drive) at Getzelman Road/State Street (Kane County)
Estimated cost: $4.5 million
Project start: Summer 2021
Estimated completion: Late 2022
Work being done: Intersection improvement will include new traffic signals, paving, ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps, improved draining and lighting in Hampshire.
Impact on traffic: Road closures will be in place for several months on State Street and several weeks on Getzelman Road.
U.S. 41 (Skokie Highway) at Deerpath Road (Lake County)
Estimated cost: $12 million
Project start: Spring 2021
Estimated completion: Fall 2022
Work being done: Replacement of existing pump station.
Deerpath Road from Skokie Highway to Golf Lane in Lake Forest: Resurfacing, new sidewalks and ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps installed.
Impact on traffic: Deerpath Road: Reduced to single-lane traffic for about one month.
Exit ramps to Deerpath Road: To be closed for several weeks.
U.S. 41 (Skokie Highway) from Illinois 21 to Dorchester Avenue (Lake County)
Estimated cost: $1.1 million
Project start: Summer 2021
Estimated completion: Fall 2021
Work being done: Resurfacing project with new ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps.
Impact on traffic: Daily lane closures.
U.S. 41 (Skokie Highway) at Illinois 132 (Grand Avenue) in Lake County
Estimated cost: $19.8 million
Project start: Underway
Estimated completion: Summer 2021
Work being done: Widening of Grand Avenue and the southbound U.S. 41 ramp in Gurnee.
Impact on traffic: Grand Avenue: Reduced to one lane in each direction.
Illinois 60 from Des Plaines River to Riverwoods Road (Lake County)
Estimated cost: $2.75 million
Project start: Summer 2021
Estimated completion: Fall 2021
Work being done: Resurfacing and the addition of ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps.
Impact on traffic: Daily lane closures.
Illinois 131 from Illinois 120 to Canadian National Railway (Lake County)
Estimated cost: $3.1 million
Project start: Summer 2021
Estimated completion: Fall 2021
Work being done: Resurfacing and the addition of ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps.
Impact on traffic: Daily lane closures.
Illinois 137 from Russell Road to Greenwood Road (Lake County)
Estimated cost: $4.3 million
Project start: Summer 2021
Estimated completion: Fall 2021
Work being done: Resurfacing and the addition of ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps.
Impact on traffic: Daily lane closures.
I-55 from Interstate 80 to U.S. 52 (Jefferson Street) in Will County
Estimated cost: $52.4 million
Project start: Fall 2021
Estimated completion: Fall 2023
Work being done: Converting the existing interchange into a diverging diamond interchange while adding auxiliary lanes on both sides of I-55.
Impact on traffic: Three lanes of I-55 in both directions will be maintained, with one lane in each direct on local routes.
I-55 at Illinois 59 (Will County)
Estimated cost: $8.7 million
Project start: Spring 2021
Estimated completion: Fall 2021
Work being done: New bridge construction.
Impact on traffic: Three lanes of I-55 in both directions will be maintained.
I-55 from north of River Road to north of the I&M Canal (Will County)
Estimated cost: $8.16 million
Project start: Spring 2021
Estimated completion: Fall 2021
Work being done: Installation of rumble strips on the shoulders and resurfacing.
Impact on traffic: Overnight lane closures with multiple weekend land closures anticipated.
I-55 from south of I-80 to Weber Road (Will County)
Estimated cost: $47.9 million
Project start: Spring 2021
Estimated completion: Fall 2021
Work being done: Improving three bridges that carry I-55 over U.S. 30, Canadian National Railroad and Mink Creek.
Impact on traffic: Overnight lane closures.
I-55 at Illinois 53 and I-55 at Joliet Road (Will County)
Estimated cost: $16 million
Project start: Spring 2021
Estimated completion: Fall 2021
Work being done: Structures will be redecked and widened.
Impact on traffic: Three lanes of I-55 in both directions will be maintained during construction, and overnight lane closures are anticipated.
I-80 from Gardner Street to Rowell Avenue (eastbound) and Richard Street (westbound) in Will County
Estimated cost: $41.6 million
Project start: Spring 2021
Estimated completion: Fall 2022
Work being done: Pavement reconstruction, widening, replacing or rehabilitating the eastbound I-80 bridges over Hickory Creek, Richards Street and Canadian National Railroad/Rowell Avenue and westbound Richards Street.
Impact on traffic: Eastbound I-80 ramp to Richards Street: Closed during the second stage of construction. Two lanes of I-80 in both directions will be maintained through construction.
Illinois 1 from Burrville Road to just north of Illinois 394 and Illinois 394 from Illinois 1 to County Line Road (Will County)
Estimated cost: $5.5 million
Project start: Spring 2021.
Estimated completion: Fall 2021
Work being done: Between Elmscourt Street and New Monee Road: Resurfacing; ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps and culvert replacement.
Impact on traffic: Daily lane closures.
Notable roadwork in neighboring states
WISCONSIN: I-94 from Illinois state line to the Mitchell Interchange: Reconstruct the I-94 North-South corridor.
I-39/90 interchanges: Scheduled to be the final year of the six-year project to rebuild the “gateway to Wisconsin,” to three lanes each way. Work will focus on four interchanges, with various ramp closures at I-4 3 just over the state line in Beloit, U.S. 1 4 and Wisconsin 2 6 in Janesville, and U.S. 12/18 near Madison. Two lanes will remain open in each direction, but motorists should anticipate lane shifts, reduced speeds and backups during peak travel times.
INDIANA: I-80/94 bridge projects: Work has already started causing backups in the Hammond area. Additional bridge work will be done on I-80/94 statewide throughout the summer, with occasional nighttime singlelane closures.
MICHIGAN: I-196 from Holland to Saugatuck: Drivers heading into Harbor Country should be on the lookout for reconstruction of southbound I-196. The work will divert southbound traffic onto northbound lanes, with southbound ramp closures at the Blue Star highway, and so is likely to cause substantial delays.