SCHAUMBURG,
IL -- The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT),
along with Canadian National Railroad, Metra, and the
City Department of Aviation today announced a public/
private partnership that will coordinate construction of
a new RR bridge along I-190.
This additional transportation infrastructure will
make travel easier in and out of O’Hare International
Airport. The Canadian National Railroad (CN RR) is
adding another track which will benefit the Metra North
Central Line and is partially funded by Metra.
“This is an example of government and private
interests coming together to better serve the general
public,” said IDOT Secretary Tim Martin. “There has been
lot of coordination and cooperation involved with making
this project a reality, in turn creating a golden
opportunity for everyone involved.”
Through sound planning and cost-sharing everyone
benefits: CN RR and Metra will gain use of a new bridge
which will provide improved access to the airport; City
Dept. of Aviation benefits from improved access and flow
of traffic at O’Hare; IDOT benefits by having a more
efficient I-190; Travelers benefit from improved access
in and out of O’Hare. It is estimated that through sound
transportation planning tax payers will save nearly $50
million
This project will begin Monday, June 28, 2004 and will
conclude mid August. Areas affected by the construction
include:
- The left EB lane of I-190 under the CN RR Bridge
will be closed for pier construction. This closure
cannot be avoided for safety and logistic reasons.
Striping will be temporarily removed from the I-190
right shoulder lane, and the shoulder will be open
all day in order to keep two EB lanes of traffic
open during construction. Occasionally, motorists
should expect some heavy nighttime work will narrow
traffic to only one EB lane under the RR Bridge
between 11pm and 5am.
- The NB Mannheim Road ramp to EB I-190 will also
be closed to protect the construction zone. The
official detour will use the three other ramps at
this interchange to go WB on I-190, then SB on
Mannheim, then finally EB on I-190.
- Higgins Road under the CN RR Bridge in Rosemont
remains a construction zone through the summer for
the same project.
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IDOT would like to remind motorists to abide by
the posted speed limit and use extra caution when
driving in work zones. When workers are present on
Illinois highways the speed limit is 45 mph, unless
otherwise posted. Keep Us Alive Drive 45 is the Orange
Ribbon campaign IDOT launched this construction season
to recognize those who have lost their lives in work
zones and to remind motorists to slow down and stay
alert when driving. In 2003, 44 people were killed in
work zone related accidents. Five of those people were
construction workers. In addition, one IDOT minuteman
and a tollway worker were killed while on duty.
KEEP
US
ALIVE - DRIVE 45
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