Illinois notes

[Rick Powell]

A county road built to Interstate quality. Don't see that often!

Actually, a state route. The road has the typical IDOT milepost sign with "905" for the route and "Peoria" for the county. https://www.aaroads.com/guides/il-905/

[edwaleni]

A county road built to Interstate quality. Don't see that often!

Actually, a state route. The road has the typical IDOT milepost sign with "905" for the route and "Peoria" for the county. https://www.aaroads.com/guides/il-905/

Thanks. Learned something new today! I always thought that was a county road marker.

[kphoger]

Thanks. Learned something new today! I always thought that was a county road marker.

No, those are inventory markers for state US/primary/FAS/FAP routes.

[ChiMilNet]

And this comes as a surprise to... no one! The Ike (I-290) is now officially the most congested stretch of highway in the country. That stretch is in desperate need of a redo! Also, it seems Chicago is, overall, the 3rd most congested city.

https://abc7chicago.com/traffic/chicago-traffic-considered-3rd-worst-in-us;-i-290-stretch-most-congested-in-country-ranking/10399425/

[Rick Powell]

Let me look into my bread box, I think I have an extra $3B stashed there.

[JoePCool14]

Convert I-290 to a surface street boulevard. People won't want ever to drive on it.

That will fix it!

[Joe The Dragon]

Let me look into my bread box, I think I have an extra $3B stashed there.

they need to toll it

[kphoger]

Let me look into my bread box, I think I have an extra $3B stashed there.

they need to toll it

ugh
let's not

[Brandon]

Let me look into my bread box, I think I have an extra $3B stashed there.

they need to toll it

If it's turned over to ISTHA, it might actually <gasp> widened and built right.

[ilpt4u]

Let me look into my bread box, I think I have an extra $3B stashed there.

they need to toll it

If it's turned over to ISTHA, it might actually <gasp> widened and built right.

Give it to ISTHA, and while at it, rebrand inside I-294 to the Circle as "I-88" , between I-294 and I-355 as "I-188" , and between I-355 and (at least) I-90 as "I-355"

[JoePCool14]

Let me look into my bread box, I think I have an extra $3B stashed there.

they need to toll it

If it's turned over to ISTHA, it might actually <gasp> widened and built right.

Exactly. ISTHA actually knows what they're doing. Mostly because they actually... have money and all...

[I-39]

Let me look into my bread box, I think I have an extra $3B stashed there.

they need to toll it

If it's turned over to ISTHA, it might actually <gasp> widened and built right.

Me thinks this is a matter of when.

[mgk920]

Let me look into my bread box, I think I have an extra $3B stashed there.

they need to toll it

If it's turned over to ISTHA, it might actually <gasp> widened and built right.

Me thinks this is a matter of when.

And with transponders-only tolling, they could simply place 'ticket' gantries on all of the existing entrance and exit ramps, much like on the ON 407 tollway.  Ditto with the rest of the ISTHA system.



Mike

[SSOWorld]

Let me look into my bread box, I think I have an extra $3B stashed there.

they need to toll it

If it's turned over to ISTHA, it might actually <gasp> widened and built right.

Me thinks this is a matter of when.

And with transponders-only tolling, they could simply place 'ticket' gantries on all of the existing entrance and exit ramps, much like on the ON 407 tollway.  Ditto with the rest of the ISTHA system.



Mike

Transponder only? They're providing other means (pay-by-plate - though not implied) and online payment.

[ChiMilNet]

Let me look into my bread box, I think I have an extra $3B stashed there.

they need to toll it

If it's turned over to ISTHA, it might actually <gasp> widened and built right.

Me thinks this is a matter of when.

And with transponders-only tolling, they could simply place 'ticket' gantries on all of the existing entrance and exit ramps, much like on the ON 407 tollway.  Ditto with the rest of the ISTHA system.



Mike

Transponder only? They're providing other means (pay-by-plate - though not implied) and online payment.

At this point, I'll gladly pay the tolls to have a functioning highway. I know this is getting into fictional territory (or is it?), but why not toll it, widen it, and "rebrand" as I-88. It would help that route be continuous, and honestly, a big portion of the traffic on I-290 in that stretch comes from the areas served by I-88.

[Joe The Dragon]

Let me look into my bread box, I think I have an extra $3B stashed there.

they need to toll it

If it's turned over to ISTHA, it might actually <gasp> widened and built right.

Me thinks this is a matter of when.

And with transponders-only tolling, they could simply place 'ticket' gantries on all of the existing entrance and exit ramps, much like on the ON 407 tollway.  Ditto with the rest of the ISTHA system.



Mike

may be better to do it like EOE and not need hardware on each ramp. Even some of the older ticket toll roads are changing parts of them to ETC setups that are not on each ramp

[3467]

Not really fictional. A toll lane at least is an option for the IKE and Stevenson.
Rick Powell explained way back it didn't make the latest MYP.

[ET21]

Not really fictional. A toll lane at least is an option for the IKE and Stevenson.
Rick Powell explained way back it didn't make the latest MYP.

There has been rumblings of a 4th lane being tolled in an eventual rebuild of I-55 from 294 to LSD.

[ChiMilNet]

Not really fictional. A toll lane at least is an option for the IKE and Stevenson.
Rick Powell explained way back it didn't make the latest MYP.

There has been rumblings of a 4th lane being tolled in an eventual rebuild of I-55 from 294 to LSD.

Last I heard that was scrapped for the foreseeable future. That said, I would have no issue with that. Most of the expressway already has ample ROW... hopefully when they rebuild I-294 in that stretch they will accommodate future expansion of the Stevenson in that spot with a new overpass.

[Rick Powell]

Not really fictional. A toll lane at least is an option for the IKE and Stevenson.
Rick Powell explained way back it didn't make the latest MYP.

There has been rumblings of a 4th lane being tolled in an eventual rebuild of I-55 from 294 to LSD.

Last I heard that was scrapped for the foreseeable future. That said, I would have no issue with that. Most of the expressway already has ample ROW... hopefully when they rebuild I-294 in that stretch they will accommodate future expansion of the Stevenson in that spot with a new overpass.

The Environmental Assessment was actually redone to add one toll lane in each direction between 355 and 294, and two toll lanes in each direction between 294 and the Dan Ryan. It is all set up for either the tollway or a P3 entity to build the additional lanes and manage them. Former House Speaker Madigan was an opponent of the P3 legislation that would enable a private outfit to take it on, but he is gone now. We'll see if the project starts to grow legs. It is one of the most financially viable projects out there since little right of way would need to be bought, and most of the existing bridges and pavement can be widened instead of completely reconstructed. 

[ET21]

Update on the outbound Kennedy (I-90) widening

"The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that as part of ongoing Kennedy Expressway (I-90) improvements, between Harlem Avenue (IL-43) and I-190, a new collector-distributor road will open, weather permitting, the week of Feb. 1.

The new design will improve safety, efficiency and reduce conflict points by separating the ramps to Cumberland Avenue (IL-171), I-294 south and I-190 west to O'Hare International Airport from mainline traffic.

In the new configuration, outbound Kennedy motorists should be prepared to merge sooner to access the ramps, as the new collector-distributor road, located just after Canfield Avenue, is approximately one-mile before the current ramp access.

The overall Kennedy improvements, between Harlem Avenue and Interstate 190, include widening and resurfacing, new noise and retaining walls, drainage improvements and a new collector-distributor road at the Cumberland Avenue interchange along the outbound expressway. The project is expected to be completed later this fall."

[machias]

Update on the outbound Kennedy (I-90) widening

"The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that as part of ongoing Kennedy Expressway (I-90) improvements, between Harlem Avenue (IL-43) and I-190, a new collector-distributor road will open, weather permitting, the week of Feb. 1.

The new design will improve safety, efficiency and reduce conflict points by separating the ramps to Cumberland Avenue (IL-171), I-294 south and I-190 west to O'Hare International Airport from mainline traffic.

In the new configuration, outbound Kennedy motorists should be prepared to merge sooner to access the ramps, as the new collector-distributor road, located just after Canfield Avenue, is approximately one-mile before the current ramp access.

The overall Kennedy improvements, between Harlem Avenue and Interstate 190, include widening and resurfacing, new noise and retaining walls, drainage improvements and a new collector-distributor road at the Cumberland Avenue interchange along the outbound expressway. The project is expected to be completed later this fall."

I took this Sunday night. Sorry it's blurry, my phone doesn't like snapping sign photos at night.

[ET21]

Interesting, been awhile since I've driven that stretch, might need to do a daytime drive through to see the new signage

[SEWIGuy]

So that means it would be similar to the IL-53 interchange with I-90?  As you approach SB, you have to exit earlier to not only get access to I-90, but also to the Woodfiled Mall?

[ChiMilNet]

So that means it would be similar to the IL-53 interchange with I-90?  As you approach SB, you have to exit earlier to not only get access to I-90, but also to the Woodfiled Mall?

Sounds a lot like that setup. I'll be honest, I am still very skeptical that this is going to significantly help with the outbound traffic issues on I-90 between the junction and I-294. They still are doing nothing about some of the short merges that exist just East of Harlem in this direction, and I feel those are as much a source of the congestion outbound as anything else. With the understanding that there is limited room for a complete 4th lane, at least between exits, why not add a few auxiliary lanes to at least help with the merging issues... I can't believe that wouldn't help at least somewhat!