MAJOR LANE SWITCHES, ADDED POLICE

SCHAUMBURG, IL – Motorists on I-57 soon will be changing lanes as major traffic reconfigurations are scheduled to be unveiled the weekend of April 5^th-6^th the Illinois Department of Transportation announced today.

Weather permitting, the northbound lanes will shift over to the newly refurbished southbound lanes of I-57 between 147^th and 125^th Streets to make way for bridge deck reconstruction and pavement patching on the northbound side of the expressway. Southbound motorists on I-57 will see travel reduced from three lanes to two throughout this three-mile stretch. Although motorists in either direction will feel the pinch, two mainline lanes of traffic will remain open in each direction during peak travel hours.

Prior to the crossover of traffic, the 119^th Street entrance and exit ramps will re-open. Following the reopening of these ramps, the northbound 127^th Street exit ramp will close and remain closed throughout the project.

IDOT cautions drivers to slow down and abide by the reduced, 45 mph speed limit when driving through the I-57 construction zone. A leading cause of motor vehicle crashes, speeding can be particularly dangerous in work zones. In abiding by the law, motorists can greatly reduce the number of rear end collisions and other crashes that cause thousands of injuries and deaths on roadways each year.

Additional state police patrols will be in place throughout the I-57 work zone to strictly enforce the reduced speed limit and other traffic safety laws. Beginning this year, drivers ticketed for violating the speed limit in a construction zone are subject to a $200 fine.

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