Here’s where to expect lane diets as tollway removes, updates I-90 and I-88 plaza infrastructure

Drivers on the Reagan Memorial (I-88) and Jane Addams (I-90) tollways should prepare for delays this spring and summer as they’re entering and exiting a number of key suburban interchanges.

The Illinois tollway transitioned to an all-electronic system during the COVID-19 pandemic but some remnants of the cash-collection era remain.

The agency is now engaged in a major program to improve traffic flow by removing obsolete infrastructure, such as barriers and gates.

The initiative will “convert our system to a barrier-free system to improve traffic operations at these plazas, as well as remove the aging infrastructure that we no longer need because we’re not collecting cash,” Chief Engineer Manar Nashif explained previously.

Here’s what to expect this year:

Jane Addams Tollway projects

Motorists will see lane reductions at the Arlington Heights Road interchange for westbound I-90 and Barrington Road interchange for eastbound I-90 as crews remove toll plaza canopies, barrier walls, and install new equipment.

Workers will also upgrade ramp pavement and shoulders, plus modernize lighting and signage.

Starting Friday, the ramp from eastbound I-90 to Arlington Heights Road will be slimmed to one lane, followed by the ramp from westbound I-90 to Barrington Road on Sunday.

Construction is being coordinated with Cook County as well as Arlington Heights, Barrington, Elk Grove Village and Hoffman Estates.

Reagan Memorial Tollway construction

Construction started this week on the Highland Avenue Toll Plaza, reducing the ramp leading from eastbound I-88 to one lane.

Similar projects will begin in the coming weeks at Orchard Road, Farnsworth Avenue and Naperville Road/Freedom Drive interchanges. Some detours will be required.

Crews will be taking away barrier walls and other equipment to accommodate new tolling infrastructure, as well as upgrading pavement, signs and guardrails.

Workers will continue improvements to the Downers Drive and Winfield Road interchanges, and start construction at the Route 31 interchange.

The projects are being coordinated with the Illinois Department of Transportation, DuPage and Kane counties, and Aurora Township.

For more information, drivers can visit the tollway’s Daily Construction Alert website.