| For Immediate Release | Contact: Steve Kulm |
| February 25, 2003 | Office: 847/705-4079 |
| TTY: 847/705-4710 |
I-290 / IL 53 Road Work Starts March 1,
Special Service Patrol to Debut
SCHAUMBURG -- A major project to improve a four mile section of I-290 / IL 53
in the northwest suburbs starts March 1.
The $62.3 million project will reconstruct the heavily traveled
expressway from Thorndale Ave to Higgins Road (IL 72) in Schaumburg, Elk Grove,
and Itasca.
Phase I of the project, the rebuilding of the northbound lanes, will
begin early Saturday with crews setting up traffic control measures. By the
morning rush period on Monday, weather permitting, all northbound traffic will
be moved onto the southbound side of the expressway. Three lanes of traffic will
be maintained in each direction.
Also on Saturday, the Higgins Road (IL 72) entrance ramp to northbound
I-290 / IL 53 will be closed until November. Motorists will be directed to use
the Woodfield Road entrance ramp located further north on the same Frontage Road
as the detour.
Construction related congestion and delays are expected. Motorists should
plan accordingly and use alternate routes if possible.
On previous expressway reconstruction projects, the department’s
Emergency Traffic Patrol (ETP) unit was able to operate within the work zone to
assist disabled vehicles and help restore traffic flow quickly. Since the ETP
coverage area does not include this section of I-290 / IL 53, a special Service
Patrol has been established solely for the benefit of this project.
The I-290 Service Patrol will be operated by Walsh Construction, the
contractor for this project, and will be supervised by IDOT. Experienced
drivers, including several recently retired ETP workers, will patrol this work
zone in standard tow trucks to provide minor repair services and relocate
vehicles out of travel lanes as needed. Motorists will not be charged for these
services nor will the drivers accept gratuities.
This service patrol will be in operation weekdays during the morning and
evening rush periods from 5:00 AM to 10:00 AM and from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM. On
weekends and holidays, they will be on the road from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
###
|
