New tollway construction work is ahead for Kane County drivers.

The Illinois Department of Transportation last week announced $108 million of work on Interstate 88 (Reagan Memorial Tollway), $839.6 million in the latest phase of to rebuild and widen Interstate 90 (Jane Addams Memorial Tollway) plus first segment of work on the all-electronic Elgin-O’Hare Western Access Project.

The work is part of a $1.6 billion capital budget for 2015, announced by the state agency. Overall projected spending, the largest single year budget in agency history, is expected to create or sustain as many as 17,000 jobs.

“As we begin the fourth year of the Move Illinois Program, our customers are already seeing the benefits — including reduced congestion and improved mobility on I-90 from Rockford to Elgin,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “We know that drivers will experience work zones along parts of our system, so we ask our customers for their continued patience.”

The work is part of a continuing project to rebuild and widen the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway as “a state-of-the-art, 21st century corridor,” the agency said in a press release.

Work on Interstate 88 includes roadway resurfacing from Illinois Route 251 to U.S. Route 30,

rehabilitating 19 local crossroad bridges and improving ramps at three interchanges.
In Aurora, residents also can expect to see rebuilding the Mitchell Road Bridge.

The I-90 work includes:

* Beginning roadway construction on the eastern segment of I-90 between Elgin and the Tri-State Tollway (I-294).

* Completing interchanges at Irene Road and Genoa Road near Belvidere and Lee Street in Des Plaines, as well as working on interchanges at Illinois Route 31 Illinois Route 25 in Elgin, Barrington Road in Hoffman Estates, Roselle Road and Meacham Road in Schaumburg and Lee Street in Rosemont.

* Rebuilding five local crossroad bridges along I-90 to accommodate the widening of the roadway, including Anthony Road, Garden Prairie Road, Higgins Road in Gilberts, Tyrrell Road and Higgins Road in Hoffman Estates. Investing $319.8 million to continue building the $3.4 billion EOWA Project.
In 2015, the Tollway will also complete the first segment of Illinois Route 390 as part of the new, all-electronic Elgin O’Hare Western Access Project, projected to be the largest roadway investment project in the state this year.

In addition, the Illinois Tollway is investing in improvements to bridges, interchanges and dynamic message signs systemwide to improve travel and safety for drivers.

Altogether, 310 miles of roadway will be rebuilt, 122 bridges will be repaired and 20 interchanges will be built or improved. Seventeen new, four-color, graphics-capable dynamic message signs will be installed on the system.

Construction work will begin in March at various locations on the Tollway system.

Work zone speed limits are in effect 24/7 in construction zones, whether or not workers are present. Drivers should continue to watch for changing traffic patterns and use caution at all times. The minimum penalty for speeding in a work zone is $375.

For more detailed information about Illinois Tollway construction projects, visit “Project By Roadway” in the Construction/Planning section on the Tollway’s website www.illinoistollway.com.

–Suburban Chronicle news sources