Illinois notes

[Lyon Wonder]

IDOT is testing concrete and buffer overlay paving on a section of I-72 between Springfield and Decatur.

http://www.sj-r.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20150904%2FNEWS%2F150909723%2F 

[I-39]

The Tollway is going to be reconstructing the Farnsworth Ave interchange at I-88 beginning next year.

http://www.illinoistollway.com/documents/10157/15912/Bid+Letting+Schedule.pdf

Does anyone know what the specific plans are?

[Revive 755]

http://www.illinoistollway.com/documents/10157/15912/Bid+Letting+Schedule.pdf

I don't recall seeing that entry for widening SB I-355 from "North of 71st St to Southof 75th St Milepost 16.10 to 15.6."  I would have though this was to try and bring the fourth SB through lane down to the Boughton Toll Plaza, but the southern terminus of the project does not appear to be far enough south to tie into the auxiliary lane gained south of 75th Street.

[Revive 755]

Dusting off this thread rather than starting a new one . . .

If anyone is driving I-80 between I-74/I-280 and I-39, there are width restriction signs with shields for US 26 instead of IL 26 at the IL 26 interchange.

[pianocello]

Dusting off this thread rather than starting a new one . . .

If anyone is driving I-80 between I-74/I-280 and I-39, there are width restriction signs with shields for US 26 instead of IL 26 at the IL 26 interchange.

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll have my camera (app) ready when I go past it in a month or so.

[ChiMilNet]

It looks like the orange glow over Chicago may be on its way out. The city revealed a bold plan to replace all the remaining sodium vapor light fixtures over the next four years.

http://abc7chicago.com/news/chicago-to-upgrade-270000-street-lights-over-4-years-/1296000/

This is the first major upgrade to the street lamps in about 40 years. This is definitely long overdue, and it'll be interesting to see this implemented over the next four years.

[Rick Powell]

Dusting off this thread rather than starting a new one . . .

If anyone is driving I-80 between I-74/I-280 and I-39, there are width restriction signs with shields for US 26 instead of IL 26 at the IL 26 interchange.

That's a long-awaited project to widen IL 26 north of the I-80 overhead bridge, where the roadway and bridge widths are horribly mismatched. The project had been sitting on the shelf for at least 5 years, I left IDOT over 6 years ago, and the plans were nearly done at that time.

[ET21]

It looks like the orange glow over Chicago may be on its way out. The city revealed a bold plan to replace all the remaining sodium vapor light fixtures over the next four years.

http://abc7chicago.com/news/chicago-to-upgrade-270000-street-lights-over-4-years-/1296000/

This is the first major upgrade to the street lamps in about 40 years. This is definitely long overdue, and it'll be interesting to see this implemented over the next four years.

I've seen small testing zones. Most of the new bulbs give off the same amount of light.

[ChiMilNet]

It looks like the orange glow over Chicago may be on its way out. The city revealed a bold plan to replace all the remaining sodium vapor light fixtures over the next four years.

http://abc7chicago.com/news/chicago-to-upgrade-270000-street-lights-over-4-years-/1296000/

This is the first major upgrade to the street lamps in about 40 years. This is definitely long overdue, and it'll be interesting to see this implemented over the next four years.

I've seen small testing zones. Most of the new bulbs give off the same amount of light.

I could imagine, and if anything, one would hope so. That said, the orange glow, in large part, comes from the old school sodium vapor lights, so it'll likely become more of a whitetish glow as time goes on.

[ET21]

Checked out the new upgrades to Mannheim Road (US-12/45) east of O'Hare. Most of the main roadwork is done between Irving Park (IL-19) and Higgens (IL-72) with 3 lanes in both directions. Balmoral Ave has a full interchange with Mannheim as well as access to O'Hare. There's also access to both Balmoral and Mannheim from eastbound I-190.

There are empty bridge piers to the north of I-190 on Mannheim so I'm assuming there is something more going in.

[Joe The Dragon]

Checked out the new upgrades to Mannheim Road (US-12/45) east of O'Hare. Most of the main roadwork is done between Irving Park (IL-19) and Higgens (IL-72) with 3 lanes in both directions. Balmoral Ave has a full interchange with Mannheim as well as access to O'Hare. There's also access to both Balmoral and Mannheim from eastbound I-190.

There are empty bridge piers to the north of I-190 on Mannheim so I'm assuming there is something more going in.

ATS to the new parking

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-ohare-parking-rental-car-garage-20150523-story.html

[Rick Powell]

I've seen small testing zones. Most of the new bulbs give off the same amount of light.

With the installation of new fixtures, there will probably be an increased emphasis on avoiding stray lighting with more "directed" beams and less upward cast.  So the effect of the "haze" at a distance may be reduced when enough of the new fixtures are changed out.

[ILRoad55]

It's so weird to see the new lights. I haven't driven on 88 in months and last Friday I went to O'Hare, the lights on the stretch of 88 from Highland to York is so weird. I'm not used to it nor will I ever get used to it. I prefer the original ones, I understand why we need the newer bulbs.

[I-39]

It's so weird to see the new lights. I haven't driven on 88 in months and last Friday I went to O'Hare, the lights on the stretch of 88 from Highland to York is so weird. I'm not used to it nor will I ever get used to it. I prefer the original ones, I understand why we need the newer bulbs.

Have they replaced the lights on I-88 with LED's?

[ET21]

It's so weird to see the new lights. I haven't driven on 88 in months and last Friday I went to O'Hare, the lights on the stretch of 88 from Highland to York is so weird. I'm not used to it nor will I ever get used to it. I prefer the original ones, I understand why we need the newer bulbs.

Have they replaced the lights on I-88 with LED's?

Yup, low energy LEDs. Currently there up between highland and york on 88 and on the bensenville bridge on 294

[johndoe780]

It's so weird to see the new lights. I haven't driven on 88 in months and last Friday I went to O'Hare, the lights on the stretch of 88 from Highland to York is so weird. I'm not used to it nor will I ever get used to it. I prefer the original ones, I understand why we need the newer bulbs.

Have they replaced the lights on I-88 with LED's?

Yup, low energy LEDs. Currently there up between highland and york on 88 and on the bensenville bridge on 294

Are you sure? They look like they're 5000K HID lights rather than LED.

[ET21]

It's so weird to see the new lights. I haven't driven on 88 in months and last Friday I went to O'Hare, the lights on the stretch of 88 from Highland to York is so weird. I'm not used to it nor will I ever get used to it. I prefer the original ones, I understand why we need the newer bulbs.

Have they replaced the lights on I-88 with LED's?

Yup, low energy LEDs. Currently there up between highland and york on 88 and on the bensenville bridge on 294

Are you sure? They look like they're 5000K HID lights rather than LED.

It's what the article posted by Chi stated. Don't know technical specifications

[johndoe780]

It's so weird to see the new lights. I haven't driven on 88 in months and last Friday I went to O'Hare, the lights on the stretch of 88 from Highland to York is so weird. I'm not used to it nor will I ever get used to it. I prefer the original ones, I understand why we need the newer bulbs.

Have they replaced the lights on I-88 with LED's?

Yup, low energy LEDs. Currently there up between highland and york on 88 and on the bensenville bridge on 294

Are you sure? They look like they're 5000K HID lights rather than LED.

It's what the article posted by Chi stated. Don't know technical specifications

That article was about Chicago phasing out HID headlights to LED, not the tollway.

[ET21]

It's so weird to see the new lights. I haven't driven on 88 in months and last Friday I went to O'Hare, the lights on the stretch of 88 from Highland to York is so weird. I'm not used to it nor will I ever get used to it. I prefer the original ones, I understand why we need the newer bulbs.

Have they replaced the lights on I-88 with LED's?

Yup, low energy LEDs. Currently there up between highland and york on 88 and on the bensenville bridge on 294

Are you sure? They look like they're 5000K HID lights rather than LED.

It's what the article posted by Chi stated. Don't know technical specifications

That article was about Chicago phasing out HID headlights to LED, not the tollway.

Oops, whatever they use... lol

[johndoe780]

http://www.idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Reports/OP&P/HIP/2017-2022/Project%20Listing.pdf

Not sure if anyone read the new 2017-2022 highway program.

Overall, not bad. I'm glad they're 8 laning the Kennedy from Cumberland to Harlem. I'm assuming they're stopping the 4 laning at Harlem since they already own the ROW up until Harlem and not until the Edens since they don't own the ROW and 4 laning over the edens overpass can be pricey.

However, I can tell you for a fact, gas tax revenue is going up. Gas prices are low, people are driving more. My own municipality has received 22% more funding than projected due to more gas tax revenue from IDOT just this month.

[ET21]

Prices have been nice. Even with the increase, $2.50-$2.70 a gallon isn't too bad for memorial weekend

[captkirk_4]

It's so weird to see the new lights. I haven't driven on 88 in months and last Friday I went to O'Hare, the lights on the stretch of 88 from Highland to York is so weird. I'm not used to it nor will I ever get used to it. I prefer the original ones, I understand why we need the newer bulbs.

This LED thing must be what they recently put in the lights in downtown Champaign. Dimmer bluish glow, could use a bit more color balancing to make it more normal but not as hideous as that unnatural orange only haze that used to hang over most towns. You'd always know where the cites were at night even in clouds from a commercial fight by the sudden orange glow below. Get away to the middle of nowhere, like the desolate town of Strawn, and you really can see the Milky Way at night, these orange street lamps are that bad that they ruined the night sky. Good riddance.

[quickshade]

Willing to pay the increase as long as I see results, especially since its just to level the tax out to what it should be. Hopefully we can still get a budget out of the state this year.

[Joe The Dragon]

http://www.idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Reports/OP&P/HIP/2017-2022/Project%20Listing.pdf

Not sure if anyone read the new 2017-2022 highway program.

Overall, not bad. I'm glad they're 8 laning the Kennedy from Cumberland to Harlem. I'm assuming they're stopping the 4 laning at Harlem since they already own the ROW up until Harlem and not until the Edens since they don't own the ROW and 4 laning over the edens overpass can be pricey.

However, I can tell you for a fact, gas tax revenue is going up. Gas prices are low, people are driving more. My own municipality has received 22% more funding than projected due to more gas tax revenue from IDOT just this month.

There is that tunnel also by the Edens there is not a lot of room to fit in 4+3 lanes. Maybe have one become express / end when closed.

[johndoe780]

http://www.idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Reports/OP&P/HIP/2017-2022/Project%20Listing.pdf

Not sure if anyone read the new 2017-2022 highway program.

Overall, not bad. I'm glad they're 8 laning the Kennedy from Cumberland to Harlem. I'm assuming they're stopping the 4 laning at Harlem since they already own the ROW up until Harlem and not until the Edens since they don't own the ROW and 4 laning over the edens overpass can be pricey.

However, I can tell you for a fact, gas tax revenue is going up. Gas prices are low, people are driving more. My own municipality has received 22% more funding than projected due to more gas tax revenue from IDOT just this month.

There is that tunnel also by the Edens there is not a lot of room to fit in 4+3 lanes. Maybe have one become express / end when closed.

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.