Crews start on third I-88 interchange at Aurora outlet mall project
It's been tweaked before, but Illinois tollway engineers hope the latest fix for a problematic interchange on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) at a popular Aurora outlet mall will do the trick.
Ever since the Chicago Premium Outlets mall opened in 2004, there have been traffic issues between I-88 drivers and shoppers eager to get their hands on reduced-price Tommy Hilfiger and Hugo Boss duds.
The Illinois tollway expanded the exit from westbound I-88 to Farnsworth several years ago after bargain hunters created slowdowns on the mainline. This summer the agency will start rebuilding the Farnsworth bridge and two ramps to give merging vehicles more room.
Workers will remove the existing Farnsworth Avenue bridge and replace it with a new one that includes a bike and pedestrian path, and better lighting.
Two ramps that take traffic from eastbound I-88 to northbound Farnsworth and from northbound Farnsworth to westbound I-88 will be removed.
The new configuration will give drivers exiting from eastbound I-88 a single ramp and intersection with traffic lights to enter either direction on Farnsworth. Also, drivers heading westbound onto I-88 from Farnsworth will have a single ramp and signalized intersection when construction is completed.
During construction some ramps will be closed and detours posted. The project costs $19 million and will finish in 2017.
To learn more, go to illinoistollway.com/construction-and-planning.