Overnight closures of Reagan Tollway (I-88) planned
For South First Street Bridge work in DeKalb. Temporary, full closures planned for bridge beam placement as part of bridge replacement project
Temporary, overnight lane closures are scheduled this week on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) at South First Street in DeKalb for bridge replacement work.
Weather permitting, bridge beam placement will be scheduled during overnight hours to minimize the impact on traffic. Electronic message signs will be put in place in advance to alert drivers. The temporary closures are necessary to provide a work zone and safely accommodate the replacement of the South First Street Bridge.
On Tuesday, May 14, one lane in both directions on I-88 is scheduled to close at 7 p.m. with intermittent, full closures of I-88, each lasting 15 minutes, scheduled to begin at midnight. All lanes on I-88 are scheduled to reopen by 7 a.m. on Wednesday, May 15.
Back up closures are scheduled for overnight Wednesday, May 15 into Thursday, May 16, in case the work cannot be completed in one night.
The South First Street Bridge is closed through summer for reconstruction and a detour is posted.
In 2019, the Tollway is removing the existing bridge deck at the South First Street Bridge and replacing it with a new, reinforced concrete deck on precast concrete beams. The new bridge will provide one lane in each direction with shoulders on either side and will be slightly wider with increased clearance above the Tollway to meet current design standards. This work is scheduled to be complete this summer.
All work is being coordinated with the Illinois Department of Transportation, City of DeKalb, DeKalb County, DeKalb Township, as well as local fire and police departments.
The South First Street Bridge is being repaired to extend the life of the structure. The work is funded by the Illinois Tollway’s 15-year, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future.
Work Zone Safety
The Illinois Tollway is committed to ensuring that the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) and local crossroads 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.
The Illinois Tollway reminds motorists that the “Move Over Law” requires motorists to change lanes or to slow down and proceed with caution when passing any vehicle on the side of the road with hazard lights activated. If you see flashing lights ahead, please move over or slow down.
Illinois State Police have zero tolerance for drivers speeding in work zones or failure to comply with the Move Over Law.
The minimum penalty for speeding in a work zone is $375. Posted signs advise drivers of a $10,000 fine and a 14-year jail sentence for hitting a roadway worker.
Penalties for failure to slow down or move over for a vehicle on the shoulder with flashing lights includes up to a $10,000 fine, 2-year suspension of driving privileges and jail time, in extreme cases.
About Move Illinois
The Illinois Tollway’s 15-year, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, is improving mobility, relieving congestion, reducing pollution, creating as many as 120,000 jobs and linking economies throughout the region. The first seven years of Move Illinois are on schedule and within budget, delivering the new Illinois Route 390 Tollway and a rebuilt and widened Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) with its new SmartRoad corridor, as well as opening a new interchange connecting the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to I-57. Progress continues on projects addressing the remaining needs of the existing Tollway system, delivering the new I-490 Tollway Project and reconstruction of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and planning for emerging projects.
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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Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.
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