Illinois notes

[paulthemapguy]

On the kennedy, that's not usually the chokepoint. The chokepoint is when Jane addams turns into the kennedy and you have everyone trying to merge and some people trying to get off cumberland south to get to the cta station.

Thankfully, the cumberland flyover should solve many of those problems.

They should call that "The Rosemont Strangler" 
I'm interested to see how the Cumberland flyover helps things.  Or if it's just gonna push the point of jamming slightly farther ahead.

[ET21]

Well to Harlem possibly, since studies are in to expand the Kennedy to 4 lanes from I-190 to Harlem. Obviously the Cumberland flyover is part of it.

http://www.idot.illinois.gov/projects/i90-study

[johndoe780]

Well to Harlem possibly, since studies are in to expand the Kennedy to 4 lanes from I-190 to Harlem. Obviously the Cumberland flyover is part of it.

http://www.idot.illinois.gov/projects/i90-study

4 laning the Kennedy to Harlem is in IDOT's 2017-2022 plan, but it's a separate project from the cumberland flyover which is being constructed right now.

I would say most of the "rosemont traffic" is due to the poor intersection of Cumberland and 90. You have idiots all the way on the left who swing hard right to get off cumberland south to get to the cta station.

Once you get 1 mile east of cumberland, traffic smooths out nicely.

[ChiMilNet]

Well to Harlem possibly, since studies are in to expand the Kennedy to 4 lanes from I-190 to Harlem. Obviously the Cumberland flyover is part of it.

http://www.idot.illinois.gov/projects/i90-study

4 laning the Kennedy to Harlem is in IDOT's 2017-2022 plan, but it's a separate project from the cumberland flyover which is being constructed right now.

I would say most of the "rosemont traffic" is due to the poor intersection of Cumberland and 90. You have idiots all the way on the left who swing hard right to get off cumberland south to get to the cta station.

Once you get 1 mile east of cumberland, traffic smooths out nicely.

I think if the ISTHA were to have signs directing drivers from I-90 to I-190 West to Manheim to access Rosemont, this would help that traffic a lot. The new ramp to Balmoral from Manheim actually makes things a lot easier, but few people know about it. I've learned quickly to do that, and it makes life a lot easier (anything to avoid that mess at the River Road Toll Plaza).

[johndoe780]

Looks like the EB 290 ramp to SB 294 is being closed 06/11


I guess they're repaving the road, but can I be a little wishful in hoping that they add 2 lanes? Traffic is damn terrible in the morning just because of the terrible design of the ramp.

[Brandon]

Looks like the EB 290 ramp to SB 294 is being closed 06/11


I guess they're repaving the road, but can I be a little wishful in hoping that they add 2 lanes? Traffic is damn terrible in the morning just because of the terrible design of the ramp.

A second lane would make that worse than it is now.  The problem is the very short space before the exit to I-88 west after that ramp merges into south I-294.

[Joe The Dragon]

Looks like the EB 290 ramp to SB 294 is being closed 06/11


I guess they're repaving the road, but can I be a little wishful in hoping that they add 2 lanes? Traffic is damn terrible in the morning just because of the terrible design of the ramp.

A second lane would make that worse than it is now.  The problem is the very short space before the exit to I-88 west after that ramp merges into south I-294.

Also can use some realignment. and a aux lane from st charles rd

[Rick Powell]

Here's a novel use for a low-ADT interstate in Illinois...

http://newstrib.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=28&ArticleID=51611&TM=34242.24

[mgk920]

Here's a novel use for a low-ADT interstate in Illinois...

http://newstrib.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=28&ArticleID=51611&TM=34242.24

(paywall)



Mike

[Henry]

It works for me.

I-180 could sure use a downgrade, since all those businesses on the other end of it have long since left, essentially making it a spur to nowhere.

[Rick Powell]

It works for me.

I-180 could sure use a downgrade, since all those businesses on the other end of it have long since left, essentially making it a spur to nowhere.

mgk, the synopsis of the article was that a private plane made an emergency landing on I-180, and the pilot remarked that he thought the road was closed because there were no vehicles on it.

Henry, there is a big ethanol plant north of the abandoned steel mill that wasn't there until a few years ago, and Acelor Mittal is trying to market the steel mill property to other potential industrial developers. So it's not exactly a road to nowhere, but more of a road to not much.

[ChiMilNet]

It works for me.

I-180 could sure use a downgrade, since all those businesses on the other end of it have long since left, essentially making it a spur to nowhere.

mgk, the synopsis of the article was that a private plane made an emergency landing on I-180, and the pilot remarked that he thought the road was closed because there were no vehicles on it.

Henry, there is a big ethanol plant north of the abandoned steel mill that wasn't there until a few years ago, and Acelor Mittal is trying to market the steel mill property to other potential industrial developers. So it's not exactly a road to nowhere, but more of a road to not much.

If looking at a bigger picture map, it is obvious that this could fill in as a Chicago-Peoria route if IDOT were to ever get the funding. If that happened, it would well serve a purpose. I don't see a point in "downgrading", but I also would say it is lower on the list of IDOT's Interstate maintenance priorities.

[inkyatari]

If looking at a bigger picture map, it is obvious that this could fill in as a Chicago-Peoria route if IDOT were to ever get the funding. If that happened, it would well serve a purpose. I don't see a point in "downgrading", but I also would say it is lower on the list of IDOT's Interstate maintenance priorities.

Wasn't the connection to 474 killed?

[dvferyance]

It works for me.

I-180 could sure use a downgrade, since all those businesses on the other end of it have long since left, essentially making it a spur to nowhere.

That's way over the top. Many even thought my suggestion to eliminate one ramp was over the top this is an entire freeway.

[Rothman]

It works for me.

I-180 could sure use a downgrade, since all those businesses on the other end of it have long since left, essentially making it a spur to nowhere.

That's way over the top. Many even thought my suggestion to eliminate one ramp was over the top this is an entire freeway.

I dunno.  Robert Moses Parkway north of Niagara Falls was reduced to a two-lane road.  I'm sure it can be done elsewhere.  At some point, the DOT has to ask, "Why are we paying to maintain this?"

[inkyatari]

It works for me.

I-180 could sure use a downgrade, since all those businesses on the other end of it have long since left, essentially making it a spur to nowhere.

That's way over the top. Many even thought my suggestion to eliminate one ramp was over the top this is an entire freeway.

I've often thought that I-180 should be extended to I-39, creating a loop around the LaSalle-Peru area.  Yeah, little need for it, but a complete loop would be an attractive incentive for developers.

[paulthemapguy]

Here's a novel use for a low-ADT interstate in Illinois...

http://newstrib.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=28&ArticleID=51611&TM=34242.24

(paywall)



Mike

We could put two lanes of traffic on the SB side of the highway, and reserve the NB side for planes  (or vice versa)

[dvferyance]

It works for me.

I-180 could sure use a downgrade, since all those businesses on the other end of it have long since left, essentially making it a spur to nowhere.

That's way over the top. Many even thought my suggestion to eliminate one ramp was over the top this is an entire freeway.

I dunno.  Robert Moses Parkway north of Niagara Falls was reduced to a two-lane road.  I'm sure it can be done elsewhere.  At some point, the DOT has to ask, "Why are we paying to maintain this?"

In another thread I suggested doing away with the SB 294 to 80 WB movement due to redundancy with I-57. Much reaction was it's bad idea.

[paulthemapguy]

It works for me.

I-180 could sure use a downgrade, since all those businesses on the other end of it have long since left, essentially making it a spur to nowhere.

That's way over the top. Many even thought my suggestion to eliminate one ramp was over the top this is an entire freeway.

I dunno.  Robert Moses Parkway north of Niagara Falls was reduced to a two-lane road.  I'm sure it can be done elsewhere.  At some point, the DOT has to ask, "Why are we paying to maintain this?"

In another thread I suggested doing away with the SB 294 to 80 WB movement due to redundancy with I-57. Much reaction was it's bad idea.

If they decide to do an interchange reconstruction, they could eliminate those two ramps in the process, to cut costs.  Otherwise, it's not worth it to start up a demolition project just to delete them.

[johndoe780]

Looks like the EB 290 ramp to SB 294 is being closed 06/11


I guess they're repaving the road, but can I be a little wishful in hoping that they add 2 lanes? Traffic is damn terrible in the morning just because of the terrible design of the ramp.

A second lane would make that worse than it is now.  The problem is the very short space before the exit to I-88 west after that ramp merges into south I-294.

Just drove through this stretch today.

It's really, ITHSA's problem, not IDOT's. Not sure how they're going to fix it, but I suppose it could be worked on when ITHSA works on the central portion of 5 laning the tristate

[Rick Powell]

If looking at a bigger picture map, it is obvious that this could fill in as a Chicago-Peoria route if IDOT were to ever get the funding. If that happened, it would well serve a purpose. I don't see a point in "downgrading", but I also would say it is lower on the list of IDOT's Interstate maintenance priorities.

Wasn't the connection to 474 killed?

Still under study as the "Eastern Bypass" by IDOT District 4.

http://www.easternbypass.com/Default.aspx

[Rick Powell]

It works for me.

I-180 could sure use a downgrade, since all those businesses on the other end of it have long since left, essentially making it a spur to nowhere.

That's way over the top. Many even thought my suggestion to eliminate one ramp was over the top this is an entire freeway.

I've often thought that I-180 should be extended to I-39, creating a loop around the LaSalle-Peru area.  Yeah, little need for it, but a complete loop would be an attractive incentive for developers.

There was an alternative to connect I-180 to I-39 (near IL 71) in addition to 4-laning IL 29 as part of a Peoria-to-Chicago route, but not selected as the final alternative.  An upgraded 4-lane IL 29 (which has an approved EIS) would connect IL 6 with the southern branch of the IL 29/I-180 interchange. No funding to get it built as of yet.

http://www.idot.illinois.gov/projects/il-29-project-study

[I-39]

It works for me.

I-180 could sure use a downgrade, since all those businesses on the other end of it have long since left, essentially making it a spur to nowhere.

That's way over the top. Many even thought my suggestion to eliminate one ramp was over the top this is an entire freeway.

I've often thought that I-180 should be extended to I-39, creating a loop around the LaSalle-Peru area.  Yeah, little need for it, but a complete loop would be an attractive incentive for developers.

There was an alternative to connect I-180 to I-39 (near IL 71) in addition to 4-laning IL 29 as part of a Peoria-to-Chicago route, but not selected as the final alternative.  An upgraded 4-lane IL 29 (which has an approved EIS) would connect IL 6 with the southern branch of the IL 29/I-180 interchange. No funding to get it built as of yet.

http://www.idot.illinois.gov/projects/il-29-project-study

And it's not really necessary. Much more important things for IDOT to be spending their limited money on.

[Revive 755]

Couple quick notes:

* The new toll plaza on the ramp from WB I-90 to Genoa Road appears to have a full-speed I-Pass lane:  Streetview.  Not seeing any of the 15 mph signs usually found for the ramp I-Pass lanes.

* Possibly the only doghouse signal in Illinois: Washington Street at North Avenue in Naperville

[ILRoad55]

That's interesting, that reminds of the really strange signal at Naper Blvd and Plank Road. The signal has two red lights and it forms a T.

http://www.billburmaster.com/rmsandw/illinois/images/signaperblvd0211.jpg