Want to see Tri-State work plan?

With work set to resume on a nearly 45-mile stretch of the Tri-State Tollway this spring, officials are giving motorists a chance to get a closer look at what they can expect.

The Illinois Tollway will host a public open house Thursday to share information on the ongoing widening and reconstruction project spanning from O'Hare International Airport to the Wisconsin state line.

At the open house, the public will be able to view displays and planning documents, as well as ask questions to representatives of the Tollway's Engineering Department.

"We want to make people aware of what to expect," tollway spokeswoman Joelle McGinnis said.

The event is planned for 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Tri-State Tollway Construction Field Office, 1121 Lake Cook Road, Suite O, Deerfield.

The massive project launched last year and is scheduled for completion in 2010 as part of the tollway system's $6.3 billion congestion relief program.

While some work has already begun, McGinnis said the majority of the construction is still to come.

"We are really getting into the meat of the rebuilding and widening (this spring)," she said.

Part of the project involves rebuilding the stretches between Dempster Street and Lake-Cook Road and from Half Day Road to Route 173. Those sections will both be widened to four lanes in each direction.

A less congested section, between Route 173 to Russell Road, will also be rebuilt.

In addition, 17 crossroad bridges throughout the North Tri-State Tollway corridor will be rebuilt and widened.

Work is also being done on a 4.5-mile stretch between Balmoral Avenue and Dempster Street on the central Tri-State, I-294.

Rebuilding and widening of the northbound lanes in that stretch began in 2007 and will wrap up later this year, with work in the southbound lanes also starting this year.

The project also includes the reconstruction of interchange ramps at Touhy Avenue and Dempster Street.

During the work, officials said they plan to maintain the same number of lanes as during normal conditions.

For more information, visit illinoistollway.com.