Illinois Tollway Notes

[Revive 755]

^ I thought the stub at the western/southern I-39/US 20 interchange was supposed to be a connection to the cancelled freeway along the railroads to downtown Rockford?

[mrose]

Honestly, this is one of those short stretches that would benefit from being transferred to ISTHA jurisdiction. This way we could be sure it would probably be done in a timely manner and correctly. Yeah, some Rockford and Cherry Valley residents might balk at the added tolls, but honestly, most people who use it probably are tollway bound or coming from the tollway anyway.

Maybe they could bring back the 15 cent one.

*ducks*

[ChiMilNet]

Honestly, this is one of those short stretches that would benefit from being transferred to ISTHA jurisdiction. This way we could be sure it would probably be done in a timely manner and correctly. Yeah, some Rockford and Cherry Valley residents might balk at the added tolls, but honestly, most people who use it probably are tollway bound or coming from the tollway anyway.

Maybe they could bring back the 15 cent one.

*ducks*

Well, with how much the tolls are now, I don't think people would push back at 15 cents. Sadly, it'd probably be something more like $1 at least. On the bright side, since no more cash collection, all they would need to do is just add an electronic toll collection gantry... probably at an upgraded I-39/US 20 interchange. That said, this is getting into fictional territory, so I'll stop here!

[ChiMilNet]

Question? Does the tollway intend to remove the signs alluding to cash payments? There are still many places where this is posted, and honestly, I can see where those without IPass who are coming from out of state would be very confused. I know the decision was abrupt, but they have had half a year now to get on removing (or at least covering) those signs.

Also, I realize this next item is a more longer term thing, but wouldn't it make sense now to start removing the toll plaza structures. I would say some should get priority over others... for instance, the EB I-90 River Road Toll Plaza would be a perfect one to start with, as an example. Thoughts?

[ET21]

They already have in many spots. Most notable include I-88 which took all the signs down and left the gantry structures up. It'll probably be an eventual phase out

[Stephane Dumas]

I found by luck this video posted last October showing the progress of the reconstruction of Mile Long Bridge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBsZs2mAwLw

[edwaleni]

Pre-stressed concrete.

90 inches by 187 feet.

I am going to check around, they said it is the longest ever fabbed in the midwest.

I would be curious where a pre-stressed beam more than 187 feet would be in use right now.

[edwaleni]

The longest prestressed girder ever built in North America is prepared for transport to its new home on the future I-5 Puyallup River Bridge in Tacoma, Washington. Photo credit: WSDOT

[SSOWorld]

I had to drive around one of those during my long trip last weekend.

[Hobart]

So I'm not sure if this was brought up already, but I noticed that the Illinois Tollway uses a different striping ratio for the broken yellow lines than roads maintained by IDOT. I'm not sure if it's the only road that does this, but does anybody know why the ISTHA uses a different striping ratio?

[ilpt4u]

So I'm not sure if this was brought up already, but I noticed that the Illinois Tollway uses a different striping ratio for the broken yellow lines than roads maintained by IDOT. I'm not sure if it's the only road that does this, but does anybody know why the ISTHA uses a different striping ratio?

I think you meant "...broken yellowwhite lines..."  as ISTHA doesn't have too many opportunties to sign broken yellow lines, as the Tollways are not 2 lane undivided highways

Don't know the reason, but they are not the only agency that uses the longer lane stripe. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority uses the same/similar to ISTHA, and also the Indiana Toll Road uses a similar striping ratio

[CtrlAltDel]

So I'm not sure if this was brought up already, but I noticed that the Illinois Tollway uses a different striping ratio for the broken yellow lines than roads maintained by IDOT. I'm not sure if it's the only road that does this, but does anybody know why the ISTHA uses a different striping ratio?

I think you meant "...broken yellowwhite lines..."  as ISTHA doesn't have too many opportunties to sign broken yellow lines, as the Tollways are not 2 lane undivided highways

Don't know the reason, but they are not the only agency that uses the longer lane stripe. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority uses the same/similar to ISTHA, and also the Indiana Toll Road uses a similar striping ratio

Yeah, they use 25:25, instead of 10:30. Also, the lane lines are thicker. The yellow line on the left, however, is not thicker, which I don't like.

[ChiMilNet]

So I'm not sure if this was brought up already, but I noticed that the Illinois Tollway uses a different striping ratio for the broken yellow lines than roads maintained by IDOT. I'm not sure if it's the only road that does this, but does anybody know why the ISTHA uses a different striping ratio?

I think you meant "...broken yellowwhite lines..."  as ISTHA doesn't have too many opportunties to sign broken yellow lines, as the Tollways are not 2 lane undivided highways

Don't know the reason, but they are not the only agency that uses the longer lane stripe. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority uses the same/similar to ISTHA, and also the Indiana Toll Road uses a similar striping ratio

Yeah, they use 25:25, instead of 10:30. Also, the lane lines are thicker. The yellow line on the left, however, is not thicker, which I don't like.

Overall, I much prefer how the Tollway does the striping (and honestly, their construction standards as a whole) compared to IDOT. The striping on the tollway is a lot easier to see, and I think IDOT would be wise to take a page out of their construction standards book. That said, I am not too sure the reason, but it is a lot easier to see... also one more way it is obvious when the tollway maintenance begins and ends on a roadway.

[CtrlAltDel]

The striping on the tollway is a lot easier to see, and I think IDOT would be wise to take a page out of their construction standards book.

To be fair, here IDOT is just following the MUTCD. The change to thicker lines, though, has been recommended for the next version.

[US20IL64]

I am hoping for more lanes where the booths were, such as Irving Park exit on 294. Big back up to the one I-Pass lane on right.

Whenever people complain of tolls, just look at the Ike in Oak Park/Maywood, and the narrow Edens with underpasses that flood often. Freeways for sure.

[US20IL64]

Tollway sign pet peeve

Heading south on the Tri-State, right after the 94-294 split for Edens spur, sign says "Begin 294. 92 Ends"
94 doesn't "end"!  It goes east on its own. Who approved this? 

Sign on left side would make more sense showing split of routes.

[SSOWorld]

Tollway sign pet peeve

Heading south on the Tri-State, right after the 94-294 split for Edens spur, sign says "Begin 294. 92 Ends"
94 doesn't "end"!  It goes east on its own. Who approved this? 

Sign on left side would make more sense showing split of routes.

Simply ISTHA being ISTHA.

[JoePCool14]

Tollway sign pet peeve

Heading south on the Tri-State, right after the 94-294 split for Edens spur, sign says "Begin 294. 92 Ends"
94 doesn't "end"!  It goes east on its own. Who approved this? 

Sign on left side would make more sense showing split of routes.

I assume no one here likes that standard ISTHA practice. It's stupid and makes no sense.

[edwaleni]

[edwaleni]

Tollway sign pet peeve

Heading south on the Tri-State, right after the 94-294 split for Edens spur, sign says "Begin 294. 92 Ends"
94 doesn't "end"!  It goes east on its own. Who approved this? 

Sign on left side would make more sense showing split of routes.

I checked the maps going back to the mid-50's. I wanted to see if I-94 "ended" at that I-294 split before the Edens Connector was built.

The maps aren't clear, in 1956 it calls it US-41 with the connector under construction. By 1958 it shows I-94 from the split all the way to Foster, where the "Northwest Expressway" was still under construction.

I can only guess, but this must be a carry over legacy sign from the 1950's from when I-294 opened before the Edens Connector did. ISTHA keeps replacing the sign over the years even though I-94 doesn't end there anymore.

[Joe The Dragon]

It was TOLL-US41 for some time

[US20IL64]

I think just not too bright to say "94 ends" as if the Spur doesn't exist. 

Also, many overhead signs saying 94 on the left is going to Chicago, and then to say it "ended"? Can go on all day, but 

[ET21]

I am hoping for more lanes where the booths were, such as Irving Park exit on 294. Big back up to the one I-Pass lane on right.

I-Pass is left side for that exit, and there is an eventual conversion most likely with the in person cash tolls dying with Covid. They are using them as staging areas for the rebuild at the moment.

[Crash_It]

Tollway sign pet peeve

Heading south on the Tri-State, right after the 94-294 split for Edens spur, sign says "Begin 294. 92 Ends"
94 doesn't "end"!  It goes east on its own. Who approved this? 

Sign on left side would make more sense showing split of routes.

I assume no one here likes that standard ISTHA practice. It's stupid and makes no sense.

It's telling you that 94 ends on that path and that it is now 294. Makes sense to me. I understood it since I was in my teens. At the end of 294 in South Holland it says the reverse, indicating that 294 is over on that path (except for good) and that 80/94 is taking over

[SEWIGuy]

Tollway sign pet peeve

Heading south on the Tri-State, right after the 94-294 split for Edens spur, sign says "Begin 294. 92 Ends"
94 doesn't "end"!  It goes east on its own. Who approved this? 

Sign on left side would make more sense showing split of routes.

I assume no one here likes that standard ISTHA practice. It's stupid and makes no sense.

It's telling you that 94 ends on that path and that it is now 294. Makes sense to me. I understood it since I was in my teens. At the end of 294 in South Holland it says the reverse, indicating that 294 is over on that path (except for good) and that 80/94 is taking over

It makes sense cause you grew up with it. It is actually poor signage because I-94 doesn't "end." . What they are indicating should just be done with guide signs. Or simply a sign that says "294 Begins"  without the End portion.