New lanes to open on I-90 tollway west of Elgin
Let the traffic flow.
After almost two years of construction that caused traffic headaches for motorists, the Illinois Tollway will roll away the construction barrels and open two new lanes on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) between Elgin and Rockford.
One new lane was added in each direction on the 37-mile stretch between I-39 and Randall Road as part of the tollway's $2.5 billion, I-90 rebuilding and widening project. The work also included repairs of the interchanges, overpasses, and the Fox River Bridge.
Phase two of the project is now underway on a 25-mile section of I-90 between I-294 and Randall Road. Work is expected to continue until 2016.
When finished, the 55-year-old tollway will have eight lanes from I-294 to Randall Road and six lanes from Randall Road to I-39 near Rockford.
A short ceremony will be held Tuesday to mark the lane-opening event. It is expected to include tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur, Sen. Steve Stadelman, Illinois Tollway Board Director Earl Dotson, state Rep. Joe Sosnowski, Belvidere Mayor Mike Chamberlain and Chicago/Rockford International Airport Executive Director Mike Dunn.