OVERVIEW: Balmoral Avenue to Demptser Street - Rebuild and Widen
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The Illinois Tollway has rebuilt and widened to four lanes the 4.5-mile section of the Central Tri-State Tollway between Balmoral Avenue and Dempster Street in order to provide congestion relief and reduce travel times for Tollway customers. This work was part of the Tollway's Congestion-Relief Program to reduce travel times.
Update – Latest Construction Info
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Four lanes in both directions are now open on new pavement between Balmoral Avenue and Dempster Street. Some minor punch list work is scheduled during off-peak hours to complete sewer cleaning and installation of rumble strips. Weather-dependant work such as landscaping will resume in spring but will not impact traffic.
Update – Bridge Construction
Several bridges were rebuilt and lengthened to accommodate mainline construction. Work included bridges at Interstate I-90, Higgins Road, Devon Avenue, Des Plaines River Road, Touhy Avenue, Des Plaines River, Oakton Street, Algonquin Road, Busse Highway, Northwest Highway and Dempster Street.
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Minimizing Impact to Reduce Delays
Three lanes of traffic remained available in both directions during peak travel times throughout this project. Lane closures were permitted off-peak only, to minimize the impact to traffic.
Please see our Daily Lane Closures for specific daily lane closures per project.
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Work Zone Safety
Construction zone speed limits are in effect in all construction zones 24/7 and drivers should continue to watch for changing traffic patterns and use caution, especially when workers are present. A 45 m.p.h. speed limit will be in place on the mainline.
See the Tollway’s Work Zone Safety page.
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Schedule
- Fall 2006 – Northbound work began from Touhy Avenue to Dempster.
- Late 2007 – Northbound lanes from Touhy Avenue to Dempster completed.
- Spring/Summer 2008 – Northbound complete, southbound work began.
- Spring 2009 – Counterflow configuration in place southbound, Touhy to Balmoral.
- Completion by end of 2009.
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Purpose – Pertinent Details on Why and How
Rebuilding and widening this section of road to four lanes will provide congestion relief and reduce travel times. The Tollway is coordinating work with local, county and state transportation officials on work to reconstruct I-294 in this section. When Rebuild & Widen Projects on the north, central and south segments are complete, the Tri-State Tollway will provide four lanes in each direction from Indiana , up to the north end of the system near the Wisconsin state line.
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News
