I-88 widening: IL-59 to IL-31?

[I-39]

I am becoming more convinced the Illinois Tollway is planning to widen I-88 to eight lanes from IL-59 west to at least IL-31. The reason is the new bridges that are being built at IL-59, Church Road, Mitchell Road, etc all seem to be wide enough to accommodate a fourth lane and shoulder. It is the only part of the system outside of the I-90 corridor where bridges are being rebuilt, not simply rehabbed/repaired like they are doing on the Tri-State. In addition, the Aurora Toll Plaza is configured to accommodate a fourth ORT lane, and the fourth lane on the Fox River bridge could easily be converted to a regular travel lane from it's current role as an auxiliary lane.

Of course, both the Farnsworth Ave and Eola Road bridges would have to be rebuilt to accommodate a fourth lane, but I believe the former is scheduled to be rebuilt either next year or the year after.

I-88 certainly could use a fourth lane west of IL-59, traffic backs up greatly in this segment during rush hour. 

Does anyone with sources know anything about this?

[Rick Powell]

It is common for agencies to accommodate a future expansion when it is far off in the future.  IDOT District 3 has built extra wide bridges in the I-80 corridor from I-39 to the east for the last 10-15 years, with nothing imminent for lane conversion or expansion. 

I-88 expansion wasn't mentioned in the Move Illinois program (where they raised tolls and got an additional $12 billion bonding capacity).  The tollway did add a 3rd lane in each direction between Orchard and IL-56 west a few years ago.

[Joe The Dragon]

I am becoming more convinced the Illinois Tollway is planning to widen I-88 to eight lanes from IL-59 west to at least IL-31. The reason is the new bridges that are being built at IL-59, Church Road, Mitchell Road, etc all seem to be wide enough to accommodate a fourth lane and shoulder. It is the only part of the system outside of the I-90 corridor where bridges are being rebuilt, not simply rehabbed/repaired like they are doing on the Tri-State. In addition, the Aurora Toll Plaza is configured to accommodate a fourth ORT lane, and the fourth lane on the Fox River bridge could easily be converted to a regular travel lane from it's current role as an auxiliary lane.

Of course, both the Farnsworth Ave and Eola Road bridges would have to be rebuilt to accommodate a fourth lane, but I believe the former is scheduled to be rebuilt either next year or the year after.

I-88 certainly could use a fourth lane west of IL-59, traffic backs up greatly in this segment during rush hour. 

Does anyone with sources know anything about this?

maybe even down to the IL-56 ramp as well.

[cwm1276]

They also will need to widen the railroad bridge east of Eola. My guess would be they would do it with the actual additional lane project.

[ET21]

I-88 certainly could use a fourth lane west of IL-59, traffic backs up greatly in this segment during rush hour. 

While I agree with you that a fourth lane does seem to be coming in the future, I've rarely been backed up in this section during rush hour. The only times I ever have been was either an accident or more recently the IL-59 rebuild zone. Must be lucky 

[I-39]

I knew it.

Terra engineering admits in their page for the engineering for the Mitchell Road bridge reconstruction (http://www.terraengineering.com/mitchell-road-bridge-aurora-illinois/) that...............

Work included concepts for the new bridge which required additional span lengths due to the addition of a fourth lane in each direction on I-88.

Also, the tentative tollway budget for 2016 came out yesterday, and one of the projects for 2016 is a Farnsworth Avenue Interchange Reconstruction. Anyone have more info on this?

I'll bet you widening to eight lanes from IL-59 to IL-31/Orchard Road is coming within the next 10-15 years. They might add it to Move Illinois like they did the I-355 widening in the Congestion-Relief Program in 2007.