Illinois notes

[Joe The Dragon]

US20/I39 around Rockford got permanent signs in both directions saying rough road.  Before the rough road signs were just on the sawhorse like barricades.

Nothing like exiting the Tollway and seeing double rough road signs, the signs are placed in both sides of each directions.

maybe they should toll us-20 all the way to IA.

[ET21]

US20/I39 around Rockford got permanent signs in both directions saying rough road.  Before the rough road signs were just on the sawhorse like barricades.

Nothing like exiting the Tollway and seeing double rough road signs, the signs are placed in both sides of each directions.

maybe they should toll us-20 all the way to IA.

Toll from Rockford to Dubuque? Might actually get the much needed rebuild

[tribar]

The I-Pass/EZ-Pass only lanes on the Skyway have been closed for a while and there appears to be some road work going on over there. Any word on what they're doing? Hopefully they're adding ORT lanes or at least eliminating the gates for those lanes.

[Joe The Dragon]

for $5.20 + Transponder Account Service Fee: $1/mo they can do better.

https://www.chicagoskyway.org/toll-information/#ez-pass-info

[Brandon]

for $5.20 + Transponder Account Service Fee: $1/mo they can do better.

https://www.chicagoskyway.org/toll-information/#ez-pass-info

I'm surprised they sell any at all with ISTHA giving them away at $10 refundable deposit and no fees (other then $2.90 to Jewel-Osco, if you get it at a Jewel-Osco).

[inkyatari]

for $5.20 + Transponder Account Service Fee: $1/mo they can do better.

https://www.chicagoskyway.org/toll-information/#ez-pass-info

I'm surprised they sell any at all with ISTHA giving them away at $10 refundable deposit and no fees (other then $2.90 to Jewel-Osco, if you get it at a Jewel-Osco).

Which reminds me, I need to get one.

[Henry]

Illinois: we can't/won't fix our roads but we can tell you exactly how bad they are.

As if I need a reminder of why I left the state...

[abefroman329]

for $5.20 + Transponder Account Service Fee: $1/mo they can do better.

https://www.chicagoskyway.org/toll-information/#ez-pass-info

I'm surprised they sell any at all with ISTHA giving them away at $10 refundable deposit and no fees (other then $2.90 to Jewel-Osco, if you get it at a Jewel-Osco).

Getting socked with a $5 toll is a pretty strong incentive to get one, and get one immediately.

[silverback1065]

what's up with SR 160's bizarre routing in highland?

[mvak36]

Which section of I-57 are they planning on doing with this grant? From what I could see on Google Earth, the section from just south of exit 53 to exit 59 are three lanes. Would they be going north from there?

[Rick Powell]

Which section of I-57 are they planning on doing with this grant? From what I could see on Google Earth, the section from just south of exit 53 to exit 59 are three lanes. Would they be going north from there?

The news announcements were somewhat cryptic. They said it was for Williamson County, and mentioned potential benefits to the Benton area as well as Marion, so I'd guess it would be from south of the Johnston City/County Hwy 2 interchange (where the 3-lanes end on I-57 at the SE and SW ramps) up to the north Williamson County line or thereabouts, approximately 5 miles.


fix quote --sso

[inkyatari]

what's up with SR 160's bizarre routing in highland?

I'm guessing they didn't want the route going through on a residential street, while still going downtown.

[mvak36]

The news announcements were somewhat cryptic. They said it was for Williamson County, and mentioned potential benefits to the Benton area as well as Marion, so I'd guess it would be from south of the Johnston City/County Hwy 2 interchange (where the 3-lanes end on I-57 at the SE and SW ramps) up to the north Williamson County line or thereabouts, approximately 5 miles.

I think you are right. This article said Pond Creek, but I am not sure where that is.

EDIT: I found it. It's about a mile or so south of Exit 65 in West Frankfort.

[mvak36]

http://thesouthern.com/news/local/idot-gets-million-federal-grant-to-widen-i--in/article_e44979d6-7cee-5bdd-9e71-0d03c936c4e7.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

$7.6 million to repave and add another lane for 5 miles in either direction sounds about right for a rural road, no?

It looks like it will be more than $7.6 million.

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/37668970/infrastructure-improvements-coming-to-i-57-in-williamson-co-il

The total cost of construction is $12.7 million.  IDOT says the state will match the rest.

[Henry]

http://thesouthern.com/news/local/idot-gets-million-federal-grant-to-widen-i--in/article_e44979d6-7cee-5bdd-9e71-0d03c936c4e7.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

$7.6 million to repave and add another lane for 5 miles in either direction sounds about right for a rural road, no?

It looks like it will be more than $7.6 million.

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/37668970/infrastructure-improvements-coming-to-i-57-in-williamson-co-il

The total cost of construction is $12.7 million.  IDOT says the state will match the rest.

Well, at least they're getting their head out of their ass on this one. I wish they'd do the same for the crappy roads up in Chicago.

[Crash_It]

Illinois: we can't/won't fix our roads but we can tell you exactly how bad they are.

Actually, Illinois has better roads than neighboring states like Wisconsin and Indiana. Illinois has 18% of its roads in poor or mediocre condition while Indiana and Wisconsin are 23 and 42% respectively. You want crappy pavement go drive on US20 then SR2 in LaPorte County Indiana. I've yet to drive on a road in Illinois that's crappy for that long.

[Rick Powell]

http://thesouthern.com/news/local/idot-gets-million-federal-grant-to-widen-i--in/article_e44979d6-7cee-5bdd-9e71-0d03c936c4e7.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

$7.6 million to repave and add another lane for 5 miles in either direction sounds about right for a rural road, no?

It looks like it will be more than $7.6 million.

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/37668970/infrastructure-improvements-coming-to-i-57-in-williamson-co-il

The total cost of construction is $12.7 million.  IDOT says the state will match the rest.

They could also apply for additional federal interstate matching money which is apportioned to the states each year, and reduce the state's share even further.

[triplemultiplex]

what's up with SR 160's bizarre routing in highland?

I'm guessing they didn't want the route going through on a residential street, while still going downtown.

I was literally in Highland yesterday.  The 160 routing is to take advantage of the grade-separated railroad crossing on Sycamore St.  That's a busy rail line and I figure the state is keen on sending traffic to where they won't be waiting for trains.
I've see this elsewhere around the country; funny little jogs in state/US highways through cities so they go over/under railroads instead of cross them at-grade.

[inkyatari]

what's up with SR 160's bizarre routing in highland?

I'm guessing they didn't want the route going through on a residential street, while still going downtown.

I was literally in Highland yesterday.  The 160 routing is to take advantage of the grade-separated railroad crossing on Sycamore St.  That's a busy rail line and I figure the state is keen on sending traffic to where they won't be waiting for trains.
I've see this elsewhere around the country; funny little jogs in state/US highways through cities so they go over/under railroads instead of cross them at-grade.

Ahh.  I didn't even see that.  Makes perfect sense

[ChiMilNet]

It looks like IDOT is planning to accelerate the 159th St. rebuilt/widening project so that all four lanes would be finished by the end of this year, which just some more punch list items to complete next year. This project has been very much delayed (typical of many IDOT projects), so nice to see that residents and municipality seems have pushed enough to get something back on track. This is a very much needed project, and I don't blame Homer Glen residents for their frustration at IDOT.

https://patch.com/illinois/homerglen-lockport/idot-will-accelerate-159th-road-construction-project

[abefroman329]

I noticed confusing temporary signage on the inbound Eisenhower yesterday.  The left lane is closed for construction at the Jane Byrne Interchange, and the signage basically says "Dan Ryan, right lane; Kennedy, center lane; Congress Expressway/Parkway, left 2 lanes."  The trouble is, the center lane is also one of the 2 left lanes.  What they mean is that the center lane can exit onto the Kennedy or stay on Congress, but it's really confusing.

[paulthemapguy]

I noticed confusing temporary signage on the inbound Eisenhower yesterday.  The left lane is closed for construction at the Jane Byrne Interchange, and the signage basically says "Dan Ryan, right lane; Kennedy, center lane; Congress Expressway/Parkway, left 2 lanes."  The trouble is, the center lane is also one of the 2 left lanes.  What they mean is that the center lane can exit onto the Kennedy or stay on Congress, but it's really confusing.

Makes sense to me...but it would be much clearer if they had overhead signs with arrows pointing to lanes.  Then it would be very clear that the center lane is an option lane since two panels have arrows pointing at it.  It's difficult to justify the cost and time to erect temporary overhead signage though, during construction.

[mvak36]

Ran across this article that has historical facts about the interstate system in Illinois: http://www.nwherald.com/2018/03/27/illinois-at-heart-of-the-u-s-interstate-system/akahmlo/

[abefroman329]

Ran across this article that has historical facts about the interstate system in Illinois: http://www.nwherald.com/2018/03/27/illinois-at-heart-of-the-u-s-interstate-system/akahmlo/

"Since the completion of I-39 in 1992, Illinois has seen only one new interstate: the 9/10ths of a mile I-41 in Lake County."

This is incorrect, I-355 from I-55 to I-80 definitely opened after 1992, and (I think) the original section, from Army-Trail Road to I-55, opened after I-39.

[mvak36]

Ran across this article that has historical facts about the interstate system in Illinois: http://www.nwherald.com/2018/03/27/illinois-at-heart-of-the-u-s-interstate-system/akahmlo/

"Since the completion of I-39 in 1992, Illinois has seen only one new interstate: the 9/10ths of a mile I-41 in Lake County."

This is incorrect, I-355 from I-55 to I-80 definitely opened after 1992, and (I think) the original section, from Army-Trail Road to I-55, opened after I-39.

Maybe the article only meant 2 digit interstates? To be honest, I'm actually not sure if the information in the article is accurate or not because I don't know any of the history. Someone more familiar with the Illinois interstate history would probably know better than me.