I-355 Resurfacing, Bridge Repair Work to Begin Thursday

Watch for a traffic shift on southbound I-355 Thursday as roadwork begins.

By Melissa Sersland Resurfacing and repair work on I-355 will begin late Wednesday, according to an Illinois Tollway press release.  Get news in your inbox. Sign up for the Patch newsletter. Like Naperville Patch on Facebook. The Illinois Tollway will resurface three sections of I-355 between I-55 and Army Trail Road and repair 12 bridges in 2013. Resurfacing will start first and is expected to be finished in a month. The bridge work will be done by the end of the year. This is the final major repair work on I-355 until 2025. Bridges will be repaired and upgraded this year, as well as repairs on the ramp bridges at the I-355 and Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) Interchange and the Finley Road crossroad bridge over I-355.  The majority of …

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10 Million Drivers Expected on Illinois Tollways over Thanksgiving Weekend

The heaviest travel is expected Wednesday, when 1.7 million vehicles are projected to be on the road, according to tollway officials.

Drivers hitting the tollways in Illinois this Thanksgiving will not be alone, by any means. The Illinois Tollway expects 10 million drivers to be on the toll roads throughout the state between Monday, Nov. 19, and Sunday, Nov. 25. Wednesday is expected to be the busiest travel day, with 1.7 million drivers projected to be on the road. On an average day, about 1.4 million vehicles use the Tollway, officials said. "The Illinois Tollway is expected to be busier than usual this holiday season," said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur in a press release. "We urge our customers to focus on the road by putting their cell phones away, and more importantly, remember that it is always illegal to text while driving in Illinois." …

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Illinois Tollway Streamlines Process to Contest Violations

Agency’s new online service helps customers contest violations for which they are not responsible, usually when a vehicle is stolen or sold, officials said.

Vehicle owners who seek to contest tollway violations and fines for which they believe they are not responsible will no longer have to call customer service or travel to the Illinois Tollway headquarters in Downers Grove, officials announced. The Illinois Tollway launched Monday a new online service for contesting violations for which drivers are not responsible, usually in situations where vehicles have been sold or stolen prior to the violation date. Now, customers can contest toll violations at illinoistollway.com, where they will download a form, attach the required documentation and return it to the Tollway for review. Prior to this new process, customers would need to call the Tollway or visit a customer service center to make their …

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Flying Through Tolls Without Paying? Tollway Says, 'We'll See You in Court'

Illinois Tollway system is owed more than $300 million in unpaid tolls and initial fines.

Anyone frequently using the Illinois Tollway system without paying may soon find themselves in court. The Illinois Tollway announced last week that it is coming after chronic violators by filing lawsuits against them. In fact, the first of those suits already have been filed, according to a press release from the Tollway. “We are sending a clear and strong message to these chronic violators: ‘Your time is up,’ ” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “Anything less would be unfair to the 98 percent of Tollway customers who pay their tolls on time.” The Tollway is getting tough, and here's why: The total owed to the Tollway in unpaid tolls and initial fines is $300 million. There are an estimated 550,000 violations …

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Tollway to Install Electric Car Charging Stations

Gov. Pat Quinn and Tollway officials highlighted the program Thursday.

Tollway Seeks Input on Traffic Noise Study

Tollway updating Traffic Noise Study and Abatement Policy.

From the Illinois Tollway: The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors’ Strategic Planning Committee is updating the agency’s Traffic Noise Study and Abatement Policy and inviting public review and comment as part of the process. The public review is part of a new effort by the Tollway to ensure that the interests of those impacted by Tollway policy decisions have been considered. “We are looking for every opportunity to engage the communities we serve by asking for input and feedback on Tollway policies and procedures that can ultimately affect people’s lives," said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “Our policy for mitigating noise along the Tollway system is certainly one that will benefit from broad public input, and we …

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2 Large Firms Get $54M in Tollway Work

"The joint venture between William Charles Construction Co. and Curran Contracting Co. won two separate contracts for roadway repaving and bridge rehabilitation on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (Interstate Highway 88)," according to the Trib.

Tollway Traffic Down 4.5 Percent

Decrease smaller than Tollway's projections.

Small surprise: Illinois Tollway traffic is down following the rate increases that started January 1. Larger surprise: It's not as bad as the Tollway projected it would be. According to the Chicago Tribune, traffic was down 4.5 percent Tuesday through Sunday when compared to same period in 2011. However, the Tollway predicted a 5.9 percent drop this year, so right now it's not too bad for the Tollway. Of course, it's hard to judge traffic the week following the New Year's holiday considering a lot of people are still on vacation or break, so time will tell whether or not the rate increases are causing motorists to seek alternate routes. What about our Woodridge drivers? Have you been avoiding the tolls more than you usually would?

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15.4M Cars to Use Tollway System for the Holidays

Friday will be the heaviest travel with an expected 1.6 cars on the road.

Editor's note: The following information was provided by an Illinois Tollway press release.  DOWNERS GROVE, IL - The Illinois Tollway expects 15.4 million vehicles will use the Tollway system during the Christmas and New Year's holidays between Friday, December 23, and Tuesday, January 3, 2012 - a three percent increase over the same period in 2010.  The heaviest travel is anticipated on Friday, December 23, when the Tollway expects 1.6 million vehicles to be on the road.  On an average day, about 1.4 million vehicles use the Tollway. To accommodate increased holiday travel, the Tollway will suspend all temporary maintenance and construction lane closures from noon on Friday, December 23, until 9 a.m. on Monday, December 26, and from noon …

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Illinois Tollway Approves $132M in Contracts

The Illinois Tollwayapproved its 2012 budget Thursday, which includes nearly $609 million in spending.