Illinois Tollway projects 8.5 million drivers over Labor Day Holiday Weekend

“Sit Tight. Choose Right.” offers drivers roadside safety advice. The number is slightly higher than the number of motorists during the same period last year, 8.2 million drivers

With more than 8.5 million vehicles anticipated to travel over the extended Labor Day weekend, the Illinois Tollway encourages drivers to prioritize safety and be prepared to “Sit Tight. Choose Right.” in case something unexpected happens on the roadway.

Drivers planning to travel during the holiday weekend between Friday, September 4, and Tuesday, September 8, can anticipate the heaviest traffic on Friday, September 4, when more than 2 million vehicles are expected to use the 294-mile Tollway system.

Traffic volumes also are projected to be heavy on Tuesday, September 8, when more than 1.8 million vehicles are expected to travel on the Tollway.

On an average day, about 1.7 million vehicles use the Illinois Tollway.

Illinois Tollway. Courtesy of the Illinois Tollway Authority

“Millions of people will rely on the Illinois Tollway this holiday weekend, and keeping everyone safe is our top priority,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “We want every customer and every member of our workforce to remember that if you have trouble on the roadway, sit tight, choose right and call *999 for help.”

The Illinois Tollway advises drivers who encounter trouble, the safest choice to “Sit Tight. Choose Right.” is by staying inside the vehicle and waiting for assistance. When a vehicle breaks down, a driver’s first instinct may be to get out and move away from the vehicle. But on a busy highway, exiting the vehicle can put drivers and passengers at risk of being struck by passing traffic.

In many situations, the safest choice is often the seat you’re already in. If possible, move your vehicle to the shoulder, turn on your hazard lights, stay inside and call *999 for Illinois Tollway roadside assistance with non-emergency situations, including flat tires and running out of gas. Drivers should call 911 and exit their vehicles only when there is an immediate, life-threatening danger, such as a vehicle fire.

*999 ensures help is just a call away

Calling *999 connects drivers with Tollway roadway maintenance crews who patrol the Tollway system 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition, the Highway Emergency Lane Patrol (H.E.L.P.) supported by GEICO is also available to assist drivers 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Tollway’s motorist aid patrols and H.E.L.P. trucks can assist stranded customers by changing tires, jump-starting batteries, adding coolant, dispensing fuel, transporting customers, moving vehicles away from traffic and calling for a tow truck.

Be Prepared for Work Zones

To help reduce traffic impacts during the holiday weekend, most temporary maintenance and construction lane closures will be suspended from noon on Friday, September 4, through 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8. Some work may continue behind barriers to keep projects on schedule. All work is weather-dependent. Areas where ongoing work zones may impact traffic include:

Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80)

The ramps connecting westbound I-290 to northbound I-294 and westbound I-290 to southbound I-294 are closed and detours are in place.
The ramp connecting northbound Halsted Street to southbound I-294 is closed with a posted detour.

Construction 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.

Drive First. Everything Else Can Wait

Remember to “Drive First. Everything else can wait.” The Illinois Tollway reminds drivers not only to put away cellphones when driving, but also to stop other risky actions that can take their eyes off the road, including texting, adjusting the radio, applying makeup or eating. Even when road conditions seem predictable, traffic can change quickly so drivers should keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Drivers should stay focused, stay alert and put driving first.

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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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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