Traffic On Expressway Chicago
Algernon Alcala
According to a press release from the Illinois Department of Transportation, lane closures and construction for Phase 2 of the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) Rehabilitation project -- which impacts lanes from the Edens Expressway (I-94) junction to Ohio Street, among others -- will resume, weather permitting, Monday, March 11.
Phase 1 of the three-phase project, which closed several inbound lanes from the Edens Junction to Ohio street, began in Spring 2023 and wrapped up in December. It caused an increase in traffic delays and backups, with much of the pain felt by drivers heading into downtown from Chicago's O'Hare Airport, and the North and Northwest suburbs.
Outbound drivers also felt the sting, due to the reversible lanes -- more commonly known as the "express lanes" -- only open inbound, leading to severe congestion during the midday and evening commutes.
"The use of alternative routes and public transportation is once again strongly encouraged, starting with some overnight lane closures anticipated next week while the work zone is put into place for the upcoming construction season," IDOT's release said.
Phase II of the construction will focus on the reversible express lanes, IDOT said, with the focus during the closure being the rehabilitation of the REVLAC (Reversible Lane and Control) system in those express lanes.
"To safely establish the work zone for the upcoming construction season, four consecutive nights of lane and ramp closures will be required in both directions of the Kennedy and Edens expressways," IDOT said, adding that ramps and lanes that were closed overnight are expected to reopen at 5 a.m. each morning.
"The reversible express lanes also will be closed starting Monday night through late fall, along with the left lane on both inbound Kennedy and Edens expressways, from just before the Kennedy/Edens junction to the reversible express lanes entrance at Montrose Avenue."
Much like the first phase did to the inbound side, two mainline outbound lanes will be closed at a time during construction, with the reversible express lanes remaining open in the outbound direction to help alleviate traffic flow.
Chicago is crowded-- so it has plenty of traffic. Here at Illinois Vehicle, we've used US Department of Transportation data along with online mapping tools to visualize when roads are busiest along with the busiest roads in the Chicagoland area.
The above animation shows that traffic starts to slow starting each day around 6am, with congestion clearing at 10am. In the evenings, traffic begins to slow starting at 3pm, and subsides in most places around 7pm.
Most of the least busy stretches of Chicagoland interstates are newer suburban/exurban routes near less densely populated areas, minus the Chicago Skyway, which receives relatively little traffic as a result of the newer expressways providing similar routing without a toll.
The oldest street in Chicago is also one of the most unique. Dating to 1909, the alleyway between State and Astor street, behind the Archbishop of Chicago's mansion is made from wooden blocks soaked in creosote to prevent corrosion and improve flammability.
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AADT/ADT - Annual Average Daily Traffic/Average Daily Traffic - USDOT data counts the aggregate traffic in both directions. For bi-directional roads, divide this number by 2 for a rough approximation of daily traffic in each direction.
Dark red lines correlate with higher traffic volumes relative to all mapped lines, dark green lines correspond to less frequently traveled roads. Yellow lines are traffic volume lies between green and red.
We provide no warranties regarding the accuracy or correctness of this article, expressed or implied.
USDOT - Federal Highway Administration - Agency responsible for managing and disbursing federal funds for US roads and highways. Data utilized is 2015 HPMS geospatial data found at .
City of Chicago Average Daily Traffic Counts - -Daily-Traffic-Counts-Map/pf56-35rv/data - This data is different from the USDOT data used in our study. It does not include any choropleth/heat-mapping visuals. Traffic counters are employed in different locations and IDOT may use different methodologies than USDOT.
Travel delays are anticipated - alternative routes are strongly encouraged
CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that a rehabilitation of the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90/94), from the Edens Expressway (Interstate 94) junction to Ohio Street, is scheduled to begin, weather permitting, Monday, March 20. Major travel delays are anticipated, alternative routes are strongly encouraged.
The estimated $150 million project consists of rehabilitating 36 bridge structures and the Reversible Lane Access Control (REVLAC) system, replacing overhead sign-structures, installing new signage and modernized LED lights, pavement patching and structural painting. Additionally, Hubbard's Cave, from Grand Avenue to Wayman Street, will be painted and new LED lighting installed.
The work will take place over three consecutive construction seasons, broken down into the following three stages:
Stage I - Inbound KennedyTo help minimize the impact to traffic the reversible express lanes will remain open in the inbound direction, while two mainline inbound lanes will be closed at a time. Motorists should expect lane shifts and overnight lane closure, along with various ramp closures. Later this summer, painting and the installation of new LED lighting will begin on inbound Hubbard's Cave, between Ohio and Lake streets. Construction is anticipated to be completed later this fall, with all lanes and ramps reopening and the express lanes resuming normal operations.
Stage II - Reversible Express LanesThe reversible express lanes will be closed to accommodate rehabilitation of the REVLAC system and bridge structures, along with pavement patching. In addition, mainline lane closures will be needed to accommodate painting and the installation of new LED lighting in both directions of Hubbard's Cave, between Ohio and Lake streets. Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2024 and be completed in fall 2024.
Stage III - Outbound KennedyThe reversible express lanes will remain open in the outbound direction, while two mainline outbound lanes will be closed at a time. Lane shifts and overnight lane closure, along with various ramp closures will be needed to complete the work. Additionally, new LED lighting installation and painting will be completed on outbound Hubbard's Cave, between Ohio and Lake streets. Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2025 and be completed in late fall 2025.
Motorists should expect significant delays and allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment. Public transportation and traveling during non-peak hours are recommended if possible.
The Kennedy Expressway officially opened in November 1960, with the last major rehabilitation completed in 1994. The project will improve safety, traffic flow and reliability for the more than 275,000 motorists who use the expressway each day.
Statewide, over the next six years, IDOT is planning to improve more than 2,500 miles of roads and nearly 10 million square feet of bridges as part of Rebuild Illinois, which is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation. Accomplishments through Year Three of Rebuild Illinois included approximately $8.6 billion of improvements statewide on 4,422 miles of highway, 412 bridges and 621 safety improvements.
For more information on this project, visit -90-Kennedy-Bridge-Study. The website features project details, maps, photos and fact sheets. The public can email questions to kenned...@illinois.gov. For systemwide traffic and road conditions, visit www.gettingaroundillinois.com. You also can follow IDOT on Facebook and Twitter.
The oldest parts of the existing system are also the most affected by chronically unreliable travel times and in some places have major safety problems, both of which can be addressed through design and investments in active traffic management as part of the reconstruction. In some cases, adding capacity through new managed lanes is also appropriate. Managed lanes make the most of any investment in new road capacity by using pricing to control the amount of traffic entering the lanes, which in turn helps keep the lanes uncongested. They also give travelers an option to ensure reliably fast trips even during peak periods.
Costs displayed below are the total capital costs for the projects, including both reconstruction and new capacity, in 2018 dollars. Fiscal constraint is based on year of expenditure new capacity costs and incremental operating costs.
The Jane Byrne Interchange Reconstruction project modernizes the busiest intersection in the region, which has not had a major rehabilitation since it was first built more than a half-century ago. While it is mostly a reconstruction, an additional lane is being added on the east-north and north-west ramps, as well as three new flyovers. A new through-lane will also be added on I-90/94, correcting a deficiency that forces drivers to switch lanes when entering the interchange. Both the capacity and reconstruction elements of the project are considered constrained in ON TO 2050. The new ramp configurations and added lanes are expected to improve safety and significantly reduce crashes for all users. The project is currently under construction.
The I-55 Stevenson Expressway is one of the most congested segments in the Chicago area. This project would add managed lanes from I-355 to the Dan Ryan. Because of the wide inside shoulder with full-depth pavement along part of the route, adding managed lanes can be relatively inexpensive, making it the most cost-effective congestion reduction project evaluated. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) currently anticipates adding two new lanes to assure travel time reliability. Given the success of the I-55 bus on shoulder service, IDOT should specifically incorporate bus priority features into the roadway design and plan for increased service as an improvement over the current bus on shoulder service. Riders on this service would benefit as free users of the managed lane.
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