Tollway oases to get new parking lots

First trucks, then cars will get new parking lots at the six Illinois tollway oases this year.

This week, the agency closed truck parking lots in the Lake Forest and Hinsdale oases on the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294) and the Belvidere Oasis on the Jane Addams Tollway (I-90) in preparation for rebuilding.

Commercial drivers are being asked to use the O'Hare and Chicago Southland Lincoln oases on the Tri-State and the Des Plaines Oasis on I-90 as alternates.

After the rebuild is complete in July, construction will begin on truck lots at the O'Hare and Southland oases and DeKalb Oasis on the Reagan Memorial Tollway. Those lots will be closed during the rehabilitation.

Once the truck lots are finished this fall, car parking lots will be repaved with all work expected to be wrapped up in October.

Drivers can expect some overnight closures and lane shifts on access ramps to the oases.

All oases shops, gas stations and convenience stores will remain open.

The Des Plaines Oasis will be torn down this summer to make way for I-90 widening and the eventual construction of a western bypass around O'Hare International Airport.