Illinois Tollway Expects 8.7 Million Vehicles Throughout Thanksgiving Holiday and Weekend

Illinois Tollway Expects 8.7 Million Vehicles Throughout Thanksgiving Holiday and Weekend

Tollway reminds drivers to Move Over for any vehicle with flashing lights on the roadside!
 
The Illinois Tollway expects as many as 8.7 million vehicles with Thanksgiving travelers to drive the Tollway system during this year’s extended holiday and reminds drivers to follow the Move Over Law when traveling. 
 
Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Wednesday, November 23, through Monday, November 28, the heaviest travel is expected on Wednesday when nearly 1.8 million vehicles are projected to use the 294-mile Tollway system. On an average day, 1.5 million vehicles use the Illinois Tollway.   
 
“As many of us head to see family and friends over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, we’d remind travelers that slowing down and moving over for stopped vehicles, when possible, will help everyone get to their destination,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse.  “As always, we’re dedicated to the safety of everyone on our roadways, and by giving a little distance our team will be able to ensure everyone gets home safely.”   
 
Illinois’ Move Over Law requires drivers to slow and, if possible, safely change lanes when approaching any vehicle stopped on or along a road with its hazard lights flashing. By slowing down and moving over when approaching any stopped vehicle that has its hazard lights flashing, drivers will avoid any legal penalties while also helping protect workers, emergency responders, other motorists and themselves.
 
Drivers who fail to comply with the Move Over Law face serious legal penalties, including fines of up to $10,000, a two-year suspension of driving privileges and in some cases, a jail sentence.
 
Call *999 for roadside assistance  
Drivers can call *999 to get help from Tollway roadway maintenance crews or from Illinois State Police District 15 who patrol the Tollway system 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Motorist aid patrols stand ready to help stranded customers change tires, jump-start batteries, add coolant, dispense fuel, transport customers, move vehicles away from traffic and call for a tow truck. 
 
Prepare for construction work zones 
The Illinois Tollway will suspend most temporary maintenance and construction lane closures from noon on Wednesday, November 23, through 9 a.m. on Monday, November 28. However, construction may continue in existing work zones to keep work on schedule for ongoing Illinois Tollway construction projects. 
 
Tollway drivers can expect to see ongoing work: 

  • On I-294 between the O’Hare Oasis and 95th Street, traffic is shifted. Counterflow lanes are in place throughout the Central Tri-State corridor. Watch for signage indicating changing traffic patterns.
  • On I-294, the ramp from eastbound Archer Avenue to southbound I-294 is closed and a detour is posted.
  • On I-294, the ramps from northbound I-294 to Wolf Rd and southbound I-55 are closed and detours are posted.

 
Get real-time road condition updates
Whether the trip is short or long, sign up for Tollway Trip Tweets with real-time roadway incident information and weather conditions at Tollway Trip 90, Tollway Trip 88, Tollway Trip 355, Tollway Trip 94/294 and Tollway Trip 390.
 
About the Illinois Tollway
The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 294 miles of roadways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80) and the Illinois Route 390 Tollway.

PREVIOUS POSTS