Illinois Tollway is Prepared for Holiday Travel

Illinois Tollway is Prepared for Holiday Travel

The Illinois Tollway is prepared for this holiday season and working to help customers take some of the stress out of holiday travel during Hanukkah and the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holidays through I-PASS benefits and roadway customer service efforts.

The heaviest traffic is expected on Wednesday, December 21, and Thursday, December 22, when nearly 1.7 million vehicles each day are projected to travel on the 294-mile Tollway system. 

Nearly 1.3 million vehicles are expected to travel on the Tollway system on Saturday, December 24, and 1.1 million on Christmas Day. Approximately 1.2 million vehicles are expected on the Tollway system on Saturday, December 31, and more than 1 million on New Year’s Day. On an average day, 1.5 million vehicles use the Illinois Tollway. 

“The Illinois Tollway wishes all of our customers happy holidays and safe travel as they celebrate with family and friends,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “We understand how stressful the holidays can be, especially when combined with travel, so we’re hoping the savings and customer services we offer can make these trips a little easier.” 

I-PASS Assist – start the new year with savings
The Illinois Tollway’s I-PASS Assist program offers income-eligible individuals and families the cost-saving benefits of I-PASS with fewer up-front costs for pre-paid tolls and no deposits required. Through a partnership with the Illinois Department of Revenue, the Illinois Tollway is able to verify the eligibility of households via a secure web form that requires minimal information to determine if household income falls below the required threshold based on Federal Poverty Guidelines.

E-ZPass – take your I-PASS when you travel
Before you hit the road don’t forget to bring your I-PASS, it’s accepted in 19 states and within more than 35 tolling agencies using E-ZPass, and includes a 50 percent discount on tolls on the Illinois Tollway’s five roadways. As a member of the E-ZPass IAG consortium, you have the luxury of traveling worry free whether in your car or rental car. 

*999 – call us for roadway assistance
Drivers should 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. 

Construction – lane closures suspended for holidays
Ongoing construction activity will be restricted to better serve Tollway customers during holiday travel with any temporary maintenance and construction lane closures suspended from noon on Friday, December 23, through 9 a.m. on Tuesday, December 27, and again from noon on Friday, December 30, through 9 a.m. on Tuesday, January 3. Some construction work zones may remain in place, so drivers are reminded to slow down and obey work zone speed limits. 

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.

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