I-88 ramp closures set to start in April

Lengthy ramp closures onto and off of Interstate 88 between Orchard Road and the Aurora toll plaza will begin next month.

The tollway project to widen the interstate to three lanes in each direction, add an eastbound bridge over the Fox River and add open road tolling is expected to take into late 2009.

Six on- and off-ramps at Route 31 and Orchard Road will be rebuilt and will all be closed at different points this year.

The first closure will be on the westbound on-ramp from Route 31 starting April 1, Paul Rogowski of the Illinois Tollway told members of Kane County's transportation committee Monday. That will be closed through late summer.

The next closure will be the eastbound exit ramp onto Route 31, which will close later this spring, Rogowski said.

Two lanes will remain in each direction on the interstate, but lanes will be shifted and narrowed. There will be a 45 mph construction speed limit.

Detours will mostly go south to Indian Trail Road.

Committee member Gerry Jones, an Aurora Democrat, pointed out that Aurora has road projects planned along Indian Trail Road.

"It's just going to be a mess, isn't it?" he said.

Rogowski said the tollway was working with nearby towns to make sure the projects didn't overlap.

Deliveries of 40 large arches for the new bridge were scheduled to start Monday.

Trucks have to drive 5 to 10 mph to deliver the arches, and will be traveling along Sullivan Road in Aurora daily for several weeks.

Eastbound lanes will be built first this year, with the new bridge over the Fox River. Westbound lanes will be built next year and use the current bridge.

The project started last fall.

Updated information on the project will be posted at www.illinoistollway.com.