Reagan Memorial Tollway resurfacing project starts April 1

The Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) Resurfacing Project is scheduled to begin on Sunday, April 1, between Illinois Route 56 in North Aurora and Illinois Route 251 in Rochelle to extend the life of the roadway and provide a smooth driving surface.

In addition, 16 bridge structures will be rehabilitated, including work requiring a month-long closure of the eastbound entrance and exit ramps at Annie Glidden Road in DeKalb, Ill.

“We understand that the I-88 corridor supports multi-modal centers and freight traffic, as well as daily commuters and students traveling to and from Northern Illinois University,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “Repairs and improvements to this 38-mile corridor on the Reagan Memorial Tollway will allow us to continue to provide safe and convenient travel for drivers between Rochelle and the western suburbs.”

 

The I-88 Resurfacing Project is needed to provide a new, smooth surface and extend the life of the roadway along this 38-mile corridor. This portion of I-88 was opened to traffic in 1974 and was last rehabilitated in 2001. The $60.1 million project is scheduled to be complete by late fall.

In the section between Illinois Route 56 in North Aurora and Annie Glidden Road in DeKalb, two lanes of traffic will be maintained during peak hours with lane closures scheduled during overnight hours. However, a long-term lane closure will be in place on the eastbound side of the Kishwaukee River Bridge for bridge work. Pre-stage work will repair shoulders and remove rumble strips so traffic can be shifted to the left, providing a work zone on the right.

Work in the section between Annie Glidden Road and Illinois Route 251 in Rochelle will begin with pre-stage work by shifting traffic to the left and closing one lane over the bridges. Traffic volumes are lower in this section and one lane may be closed at all times to complete work.

 

Once pre-stage work is complete in both sections, crews will begin work to remove the top 1½-inch layer of existing asphalt and replace it with a new, 2½-inch layer of asphalt.  Resurfacing work will start with the right shoulder.

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Bridge Work and Annie Glidden Road Interchange Detour

Sixteen bridge structures will be repaired as part of the resurfacing project with full closures and lane reductions at several locations, including Annie Glidden Road and South 1st Street in DeKalb and Main Street in Rochelle.

The Annie Glidden Road Bridge over I-88 will close for one month from late May to late June.  Full closure of the bridge will allow the Tollway to complete the repairs in a shorter timeframe and will avoid safety and traffic delay complications. While the Annie Glidden Road Bridge is closed, traffic entering and exiting eastbound I-88 will be detoured to the Peace Road interchange to the east.

The Main Street Bridge over I-88 in Rochelle will be closed for several weeks starting in mid- to late April in order to reduce construction times.  Traffic will be detoured to Illinois Route 251 to the west during this period.

Additionally, traffic on South 1st Street over I-88 in DeKalb will be reduced to one lane in mid-April with two-way traffic controlled by traffic signals.  Similar closures are also scheduled on Somonauk Road south of Cortland in May and on University Road in Malta Township in early summer.  All other bridge work will be completed with temporary lane closures.

Tollway bridges over local roads and waterways that will be repaired include: Illinois Route 251, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Caron Road, Kishwaukee River, Youngs Creek and the tributary to Big Rock Creek.  Crossroad bridges over the Illinois Tollway include: Main Street in Rochelle, University Road, Annie Glidden Road, South 1st Street, Somonauk Road, Keslinger Road, West County Line Road, Dauberman Road and Main Street in Kaneville Township.

Work Zone Safety

A 45 mph speed limit is in effect 24/7 in all construction zones, whether or not workers are present.  Drivers should continue to watch for changing traffic patterns and use caution at all times.

Illinois State Police have zero tolerance for drivers speeding in work zones. The minimum penalty for speeding in a work zone is $375. Posted signs advise drivers of a $10,000 fine and 14-year jail sentence for hitting a roadway worker.

Building Green

The Tollway says it is committed to “Building Green” and minimizing the environmental impact of construction by reducing, recycling and reusing materials. The new asphalt overlay on the Reagan Memorial Tollway will incorporate recycled materials including warm mix asphalt, reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), ground tire rubber and recycled asphalt shingles, according to the Illinois Tollway Authority. In addition to reducing the cost of this work, reuse of these materials reduces the need for virgin asphalt materials and the volume of material that would otherwise be sent to landfills.