Speed limit soon could rise to 70 on I-90, I-355 stretches

Tollway directors Thursday voted to allow 70 mph speed limits on the Jane Addams Tollway (I-90) between Elgin and Rockford and on the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355) between I-55 and I-80.

Those locations have a current posted speed limit of 65 mph.

Tollway engineers said they consider crash data, traffic volume, prevailing speeds, congestion, and where exits and entrances are in determining whether to set new limits.

The decision requires approval from the Illinois Department of Transportation and a state panel on new rules.

Although the General Assembly voted to raise speeds on toll roads to 70 mph across the metro area, tollway officials have said the Illinois Vehicle Code empowers them to set the limits.

The toll board also voted to increase speeds at other locations in the region in March.

Those changes were approved in October and include the following:

• On the Tri-State: 60 mph between I-57 and I-55 and 60 mph between Touhy and Deerfield Road for all traffic; 65 mph between Deerfield and Stearns School Road near Gurnee Mills for cars and buses.

• On I-88: 60 mph from the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) to Route 31 for all traffic; 65 mph between Route 31 and Orchard Road for cars and buses.

• On I-355: 60 mph between I-55 and Army Trail Road for all traffic.

Toll roads in the metro region have a variety of posted speeds ranging from 55 mph to 70 mph.