Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project
Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294)
Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project
Project Overview
The Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) is being reconstructed and widened from Balmoral Avenue to 95th Street to provide congestion relief, reconstruct old infrastructure to meet current and future transportation demand and address regional needs. The project is scheduled from 2018 through 2026. This 22-mile corridor serves more than 300,000 vehicles daily. The $4 billion project is scheduled from 2018 through 2026.
The Illinois Tollway has undertaken a detailed planning and refinement process to develop design and construction plans for the Central Tri-State Tollway Project. Major components of the project include reconfiguring the I-290/I-88 Interchange at I-294, rebuilding the Mile Long Bridge and the BNSF Railway Bridge, as well as integrating Flex Lanes and SmartRoad technology.
2022 Overview
Construction in 2022 includes mainline rehabilitation and widening between the O’Hare Oasis and Wolf Road and mainline reconstruction and widening between Wolf Road and St. Charles Road, between I-55 and 75th Street and between LaGrange Road and 95th Street. Work on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway Bridge in Hinsdale and Western Springs is scheduled for completion this year, while work on The Mile Long Bridge between Hodgkins and Willow Springs is scheduled to continue. At both bridge locations traffic, including freight and commuter rail traffic, will be maintained during construction.
Work this year also includes work to reconfigure ramps at the Ogden Avenue Interchange, as well as ongoing reconstruction and improvement of ramps at the I-55 Interchange and completion of construction at the St. Charles Road Interchange on I-290 as part of the work to reconfigure the I-290/I-88 Interchange at I-294.
In addition, advance work, utility work and improvements to ramps and local crossroad bridges will take place throughout the project corridor. This work includes the reconstruction of the Plainfield Road Bridge carrying traffic over I-294, the removal of the Hinsdale Oasis over-the-road structure and the completion of the new pedestrian bridge over I-294 adjacent to 47th Street between Hinsdale and Western Springs for pedestrians and bicyclists.
CONCEPT PLAN
MAP
PROJECT SCHEDULE
MAP
ST. CHARLES ROAD INTERCHANGE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE MAP
EB ARCHER AVENUE TO SB I-294 RAMP CLOSURE DETOUR
WB I-290 TO SB I-294 RAMP CLOSURE
DETOUR
EB I-88 TO NB I-294 RAMP CLOSURE
DETOUR
GRAND AVENUE ROAD CLOSURE
DETOUR
95TH STREET TO LAGRANGE ROAD TRAFFIC SHIFTS
75TH STREET TO PLAINFIELD ROAD TRAFFIC SHIFTS
ST. CHARLES ROAD TO O'HARE OASIS TRAFFIC SHIFTS
Construction Update (2/3/23)
I-294 Mainline
Between the O'Hare Oasis and Plainfield Road traffic is currently shifted in both directions, including one southbound lane that is traveling on the northbound side of the Tollway between North Avenue and St. Charles Road and two northbound lanes that are traveling on the southbound side of the Tollway between North Avenue and Wolf Road. Traffic is scheduled to remain in this configuration through fall 2023.
Between Plainfield Road and 75th Street, traffic in both directions is shifted and reduced to three lanes with northbound traffic shifted onto the southbound side. Traffic is scheduled to remain in this configuration into 2023.
The ramp connecting eastbound Archer Avenue to southbound I-294 is closed through spring 2023. A detour is posted. Additional ramp closures and detours will be in place intermittently at the Archer Avenue Interchange.
Between the Mile Long Bridge and 88th/Cork Avenue, traffic in both directions is shifted.
Please check the Daily Construction Alert for up-to-date closure information.
Ramps
At the I-290/I-88 Interchange at I-294, overnight lane and ramp closures will be needed on I-294 and I-290 through February, including the closure and detour of the ramps carrying eastbound I-88 traffic and northbound I-294 to westbound I-290. Detours will be posted.
At the I-55 Interchange, the ramps connecting northbound I-294 to southbound I-55 and to Wolf Road are scheduled to reopen on Friday, February 10. The ramps have been closed and detoured since April 2022.
Customer Impacts
Shoulder closures and traffic shifts will be used to provide room for a work zone and safely accommodate traffic. Whenever possible, the Tollway uses traffic shifts and shoulders to keep as many lanes open during peak hours as were available before construction.
In addition, lane closures will be scheduled as needed on the Tollway and local roads to complete work.
To accommodate roadway reconstruction and widening, the project will require the removal of the over-the-road building and bridge at the Hinsdale Oasis in 2022. The remainder of the oasis will remain open to Tollway customers during and after construction is complete, with parking as well as the 7-Eleven fuel stations with food, restrooms and fuel accessible for customers on both sides of I-294. View the site map.
A Regional Solution
The Central Tri-State Tollway is being reconstructed to increase capacity, reduce congestion and improve travel reliability. This work is part of the Tollway’s 15-year, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. More than 220,000 vehicles use this portion of the Tri-State Tollway daily.
A detailed planning and refinement process is underway to complete a design concept for rebuilding the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294). This process includes outreach efforts with customers, communities, businesses and partners to identify regional improvements and continue to refine the design details.
Sustainability
The Tollway is committed to building green and minimizing the environmental impact of construction by reducing, recycling and reusing materials.
In addition to reducing the cost of this work, reuse of these materials reduces the need for virgin asphalt materials and reduces energy consumption, greenhouse gases and the volume of material that would otherwise be sent to landfills.
Work Zone Safety
The Illinois Tollway is committed to ensuring that the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and local roads remain safe for both drivers and workers during construction, which is part of the agency’s overall commitment to roadway safety.
Work 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.
Visit the Tollway's Work Zone Safety page.