Illinois Tollway Notes

[US20IL64]

"They have begun to rip up parts of the original ramp, the last bit of original 294 pavement..."

Pavement doesn't last long in this climate. It's been redone a few times since 1958.
But it is part of the original layout.

[ChiMilNet]

"They have begun to rip up parts of the original ramp, the last bit of original 294 pavement..."

Pavement doesn't last long in this climate. It's been redone a few times since 1958.
But it is part of the original layout.

Might have been an overlay for the original, so it's possible the original base pavement is under the overlay. That said, glad to see that slowdown ramp finally get replaced!

[JREwing78]

An excellent aerial overview of the project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnPENmzivE0

[Revive 755]

* There's an interesting combination of down arrows for the I-294 lanes and an arrow per lane sign on SB I-294 near I-55 IIRC.

* I recently tried the new NB I-294 to WB I-290 ramp.  The signage approaching the exit seems lacking/hard to tell which lane goes where or ends.  More concerning was the nearly stopped traffic where the ramp narrows to a single lane.

[US20IL64]

The big mound for the 294 to 290 ramp is getting removed, so that original design part is going.

[Revive 755]

From a recent trip, the ramp from EB I-290 to SB I-294/WB I-88 had two lanes.  EB I-290 approaching that ramp is shifted so the right lane is very close to the soundwall.

[ET21]

Only change I've seen recently is the median has begun getting built between Ogden and Cermak. Still waiting for them to install the new electric lane management screens from Ogden to 95th

[Great Lakes Roads]

On the online plan room is this: I-26-2051 - RFQ I-294 Site Redevelopment of Hinsdale and O'Hare Oases

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The Illinois Tollway is proposing to build three new Oasis buildings to replace the Northbound and Southbound buildings in Hinsdale and Northbound O'Hare. The Tollway Oasis improvements at the O'Hare and Hinsdale locations will provide basic services for travelers along the Tri-State Tollway. The new buildings will each be approximately 40,000 total building square feet, aligning with contemporary traveler expectations as well as operational efficiency. Each building prototype encompasses a mix of flexible commercial spaces for food service vendors, including approximately 5,500 sf of total tenant space.

[The Ghostbuster]

Will the new service area buildings hang over the mainline like the old ones did before they were demolished?

[Great Lakes Roads]

Will the new service area buildings hang over the mainline like the old ones did before they were demolished?

I don't think so.

[ET21]

Sounds like they're replacing the current 7/11 and Mobil structures with a more updated/expanded version. Considering a good chunk of the car parking is still cut off at Hinsdale, I would assume that's where it might go?

[US20IL64]

If anyone remembers the final version of the Des Planes Oasis was like before demo, that's maybe what these new ones will be. Larger 7-11 with much bigger bathrooms.

No wonder the bathrooms at O'Hare are so junky. Why fix if getting torn down?

[Great Lakes Roads]

Looks like the ISHTA has a contract to replace and update a bunch of signage around the tollway system.

https://www.illinoistollwaybidding.com/projects/6722/specs/rr-26-2050-systemwide-sign-panel-fabrication-installation?wv=172666

[hobsini2]

Looks like the ISHTA has a contract to replace and update a bunch of signage around the tollway system.

https://www.illinoistollwaybidding.com/projects/6722/specs/rr-26-2050-systemwide-sign-panel-fabrication-installation?wv=172666

Page 122 and 123 show the proposed signs still have a big problem. They are not removing "North" from the signs even though they have "Joliet" on the signs. Did no one say something to them?

[ET21]

The dreaded NB I-355 Rockford is expanding...

[kphoger]

The dreaded NB I-355 Rockford is expanding...

By the way...  I've never like "Northwest Suburbs" as a control city.  What do you think it should be?  Schaumburg?  Palatine?

[ET21]

The dreaded NB I-355 Rockford is expanding...

By the way...  I've never like "Northwest Suburbs" as a control city.  What do you think it should be?  Schaumburg?  Palatine?

Schaumburg for the whole NB 355 route, you could then play with NW burbs for the IL-53 part or just do Long Grove since its the terminus

[Rothman]

The dreaded NB I-355 Rockford is expanding...

By the way...  I've never like "Northwest Suburbs" as a control city.  What do you think it should be?  Schaumburg?  Palatine?

Milwaukee

[kphoger]

Milwaukee

Wrong thread.

[dvferyance]

On the online plan room is this: I-26-2051 - RFQ I-294 Site Redevelopment of Hinsdale and O'Hare Oases

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The Illinois Tollway is proposing to build three new Oasis buildings to replace the Northbound and Southbound buildings in Hinsdale and Northbound O'Hare. The Tollway Oasis improvements at the O'Hare and Hinsdale locations will provide basic services for travelers along the Tri-State Tollway. The new buildings will each be approximately 40,000 total building square feet, aligning with contemporary traveler expectations as well as operational efficiency. Each building prototype encompasses a mix of flexible commercial spaces for food service vendors, including approximately 5,500 sf of total tenant space.

Good I would like to see at least one of them back as a full service Oasis again. The 60 mile gap between Lake Forest and Licoln stinks. I assume though they will be built off to the sides and not over the tollway as before.

[SSOWorld]

On the online plan room is this: I-26-2051 - RFQ I-294 Site Redevelopment of Hinsdale and O'Hare Oases

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The Illinois Tollway is proposing to build three new Oasis buildings to replace the Northbound and Southbound buildings in Hinsdale and Northbound O'Hare. The Tollway Oasis improvements at the O'Hare and Hinsdale locations will provide basic services for travelers along the Tri-State Tollway. The new buildings will each be approximately 40,000 total building square feet, aligning with contemporary traveler expectations as well as operational efficiency. Each building prototype encompasses a mix of flexible commercial spaces for food service vendors, including approximately 5,500 sf of total tenant space.

Good I would like to see at least one of them back as a full service Oasis again. The 60 mile gap between Lake Forest and Licoln stinks. I assume though they will be built off to the sides and not over the tollway as before.

3 buildings - so I don't know on one of them.

[Brandon]

On the online plan room is this: I-26-2051 - RFQ I-294 Site Redevelopment of Hinsdale and O'Hare Oases

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The Illinois Tollway is proposing to build three new Oasis buildings to replace the Northbound and Southbound buildings in Hinsdale and Northbound O'Hare. The Tollway Oasis improvements at the O'Hare and Hinsdale locations will provide basic services for travelers along the Tri-State Tollway. The new buildings will each be approximately 40,000 total building square feet, aligning with contemporary traveler expectations as well as operational efficiency. Each building prototype encompasses a mix of flexible commercial spaces for food service vendors, including approximately 5,500 sf of total tenant space.

Good I would like to see at least one of them back as a full service Oasis again. The 60 mile gap between Lake Forest and Licoln stinks. I assume though they will be built off to the sides and not over the tollway as before.

3 buildings - so I don't know on one of them.

Given that two are northbound and one is southbound, I suspect they'll use up some what used to be the parking area on the side (probably where the drive thru lanes used to be).  It appears the southbound O'Hare one may not be ready as ISTHA is using the parking area as staging for some of the remaining Tri-State project (makes sense as the construction is directly south of there).