Today is the Worst Traffic Day: 4th of July Weekend Travel Guide

The worst day to hit the road this Fourth of July holiday weekend will be Friday, July 1, when almost 2 million vehicles are expected to be on the Illinois Tollway system.

Vacationers are advised to start weekend travel before lunch or after 8 p.m. Friday, according to the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.

From Friday to Tuesday, July 5, the Illinois Tollways reports 8 million cars and vehicles will be on the road, a 5 percent increase from the 7.6 million vehicles out and about during the 2015 Fourth of July weekend.

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Most construction activities, including most temporary maintenance and construction lane closures, will be restricted from noon July 1 to 9 a.m. July 5 to help keep holiday traffic moving. Drivers are reminded to slow down and follow speed limits in work zones, even if workers aren't present.

Areas where work zones will continue during the holiday include:

Jane Adams Memorial Tollway (I-90)

• Between the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and the Elgin Toll Plaza, traffic shifts are in place for the I-90 Rebuilding and Widening Project.
• On eastbound I-90 between Higgins Road (Illinois Route 72) in Rosemont and the River Road Toll Plaza, traffic is split with a work zone in the middle. Traffic on the right has access to southbound I-294 and O’Hare International Airport and traffic on the left has access to northbound I-294 and the Kennedy Expressway.
• At the River Road Toll Plaza, one open road tolling lane and one I-PASS or Pay Online lane and three manned lanes on the cash side of the plaza are closed.

Illinois Route 390 Tollway

Following the Fourth of July weekend, cashless toll collection will begin on Tuesday, July 5, between Lake Street (U.S. Route 20) and I-290. No toll booths or coin baskets are available. Customers without I-PASS must pay online or by mail within the 7-day grace period to avoid fines.

• Work continues on the Illinois Route 390 Tollway with construction along Thorndale Avenue from I-290 to Illinois Route 83 and on the new I-290 Interchange.
• On Illinois Route 390, traffic in both directions is shifted between Rohlwing Road and I-290 and work is underway along Thorndale Avenue.
• On I-290 between Devon Avenue and Irving Park Road, traffic is shifted in both directions.

Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88)

• Between U.S. Route 30 in Rock Falls and Chicago Avenue (U.S. Route 52) near Dixon, traffic is reduced to one lane in both directions.
• The ramp connecting eastbound I-88 to Illinois Route 26 in Dixon will reopen on Thursday, June 30, for the holiday weekend. The ramp will re-close following the holiday on July 5.
• At the Farnsworth Avenue Interchange, the I-88 eastbound exit ramps to Farnsworth Avenue and entrance ramps from Farnsworth Avenue to westbound I-88 are closed with posted detours. Traffic on southbound Farnsworth Avenue is shifted to the right and reduced to one lane.

Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355)

• On southbound I-355 between 71st Street and 75th Street, traffic is shifted to the left, and the ramps connecting southbound I-355 with 75th Street are shifted to the right.

Tollway Travel Tips

• illinoistollway.com – Construction/Planning section, Tollway Trip Calculator, live roadway images and real-time roadway incident information
• 1-800-TOLL-FYI – Daily lane closure and travel information
• travelmidwest.com – Real-time travel times
• twitter.com – Real-time roadway incident information at Tollway Trip 90, Tollway Trip 88, Tollway Trip 355 and Tollway Trip 94/294

Need help? Dial *999. If your car is disabled, park safely on the shoulder, raise your hood and remain in your vehicle. Dial *999 and assistance will be sent to you.

State Police Info

The Illinois State Police District 15 will be out in full force on the Illinois Tollway system during the Fourth of July holiday weekend. State Police will help travelers and strictly enforce traffic laws.

“District 15 will have additional officers on patrol and will be conducting special enforcement details focusing on speed, distracted driving, truck lane restrictions and alcohol-related offenses in an effort to reduce crashes and prevent fatalities,” said District 15 Commander Robert Meeder in a statement. “We are asking drivers to help keep the Illinois Tollway safe by slowing down, putting away their cellphones and buckling up all occupants to ensure safe travel.”

Special traffic details will include seatbelt enforcement at toll plazas and air speed details through construction zones on the I-90 Rebuilding and Widening Project. Officers will use motorcycles, unmarked squad cars and fully marked colored squads throughout the Tollway system.

Gas Prices

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Metra Service

Planning to take Metra instead of fighting traffic on the Illinois Tollway system? Metra is adding “early getaway” departures on Friday, July 1.

Most Metra lines will add and shift train departures to mid-afternoon to accommodate the rush of passengers leaving work early before the holiday weekend.

On July 2 and July 3, Metra will operate its normal Saturday and Sunday schedules and expand capacity when possible. On both weekend nights, Metra will hold the last train of the night departing Chicago until 1 a.m. on the BNSF, Milwaukee North and Milwaukee West lines and all three Union Pacific for people attending events in downtown Chicago.

The Rock Island Line will also hold its final departure from Chicago until 1 a.m. on Saturday, July 2.

For Monday, July 4, Metra trains will be operating on a Sunday/holiday schedule, and there will be no service on the North Central Service, Heritage Corridor and SouthWest Service lines. However, to better accommodate crowds going downtown to watch fireworks at Navy Pier that evening, the BNSF, Milwaukee North, Milwaukee West and Union Pacific North Lines will hold 10:35 p.m. and 10:40 p.m. departures to 11 p.m.

Union Pacific will also add some trains to its July 4 schedule. The UP Northwest Line will operate two extra outbound trains departing Chicago at 6:20 p.m. and 11:20 p.m. Both trains will run express to Des Plaines and make all stops to Crystal Lake. The UP West Line will operate one extra outbound train departing downtown at 6:30 p.m., expressing to Elmhurst and then making all stops to Elburn.

Metra is offering an $8 holiday pass good for unlimited travel July 2 through July 4. The pass can be purchased on the train or via the Ventra app that can be downloaded at the App Store or Google Play.

Service changes, July 1-4, according to Metra:

Friday, July 1, 2016

A weekday schedule will be in effect on July 1 with the following changes.

BNSF
Extra Service:

• Train 9531, departing Union Station at 12:20 p.m., will provide express service to Downers Grove Main Street and then make all stops to Aurora.
• Three trains will provide early express service to Naperville/Route 59:
  Train 9535 – departs Chicago 2:25 p.m.
  Train 9539 – departs Chicago 3:10 p.m.
  Train 9543 – departs Chicago 3:50 p.m. (will also go to Aurora).

Service Changes:

• Train 1271, the 5:32 p.m. departure, will not operate.
• Train 1241, the 3:21 p.m. departure, will terminate at Downers Grove Main Street.
• Inbound Train 1274 will depart from Downers Grove Main Street, not Aurora.
• Train 1325 will depart Chicago at 1 a.m.

METRA ELECTRIC
Extra Service:

• Train UPX1 will depart Millennium Station at 1:25 p.m. and will express to 57th Street, then express to Kensington and make all stops from Kensington to University Park.
• Train UPX3 will depart Millennium Station at 2:25 p.m. and will express to 57th Street, then express to Kensington and make all stops from Kensington to University Park.
• Train UPX5 will depart Millennium Station at 3:15 p.m. and express to 57th Street, then express to Kensington and make all stops from Kensington to Matteson.

Extras will not stop at Van Buren or Museum Campus/11th St.

Service Changes:
The following trains will not operate:

• 733 – the 4:50 p.m. departure
• 735 – the 5:05 p.m. departure
• 737 – the 5:20 p.m. departure

The following trains will make combined Kensington through Flossmoor stops:

• 753 – the 4:53 p.m. departure
• 755 – the 5:08 p.m. departure
• 757 – the 5:23 p.m. departure

MILWAUKEE NORTH
Extra Service:

• Train NX01 will depart Union Station at 2:25 p.m., express to Glenview and then make all stops to Fox Lake.

Service Changes:

• Train 2135 – the 5:12 p.m. departure, will not operate.
• Train 2159 – will depart Chicago at 1 a.m.

MILWAUKEE WEST
Extra Service:

• Train WX01 will depart Union Station at 3:25 p.m., express to Bensenville and make all stops to Big Timber.

Service Changes:

• Train 2237 – the 5:17 p.m. departure, will not operate.
• Train 2239 – the 5:23 p.m. departure, will make all stops Bensenville to Big Timber.
• Train 2257 – will depart Chicago at 1 a.m.

ROCK ISLAND
Extra Service:

• Train MX01 will depart LaSalle Street Station at 3:40 p.m., express to Midlothian then all stops to Joliet.

Service Changes:

• • Train 415 – the 5:15 p.m. departure, will not operate.
• • Train 533 – will depart LaSalle Street at 1 a.m.

SOUTHWEST SERVICE
Extra Service:

• Train SX01 will depart Union Station at 3:40 p.m. and make all stops to Manhattan.

Service Changes:

• Train 831, the 6:15 p.m. departure from Union Station, will not operate.

UNION PACIFIC NORTH
Extra Service:

• Train KX01 will depart Chicago at 2:29 p.m., express to Wilmette and make stops to Kenosha except Ravinia Park.
• Train KX03 will depart Chicago at 3:15 p.m., express to Wilmette and make stops to Waukegan except Ravinia Park.
• Train KX05 will depart Chicago at 5:00 p.m., and make all stops to Kenosha except Evanston Main Street, Indian Hill, Hubbard Woods, Ravinia Park and Highwood.
• Train RAV1 will depart Chicago 5:49 p.m. make all stops to Evanston Central Street, express to Ravinia Park and then make all stops to North Chicago

Service Changes:

• Train 341, the 5:03 p.m. departure from Chicago, will not operate.
• Train 343, the 5:08 p.m. departure from Chicago, will not operate.
• Train 353, the 5:50 p.m. departure from Chicago, will not operate.
• Train 301 will depart at 1:05 a.m.

UNION PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Extra Service:

• Train HX01 will depart Chicago at 1:24 p.m., express to Mt. Prospect and make all stops to Crystal Lake.
• Train HX03 will depart Chicago at 2:24 p.m., express to Mt. Prospect and make all stops to Harvard.
• Train HX05 will depart Chicago at 3:10 p.m., stop at Clybourn, express to Mt. Prospect and make all stops to Crystal Lake.
• Train HX07 will depart Chicago at 3:26 p.m. and make all stops to Palatine.

Service Changes:

• Train 623, the 3:25 pm departure from Chicago, will not operate.
• Train 635, the 4:57 p.m. departure from Chicago, will not operate.
• Train 639, the 5:12 p.m. departure from Chicago, will not operate.
• Train 641, the 5:16 p.m. departure from Chicago, will not operate.
• Train 651, the 6:01 p.m. departure from Chicago, will not operate.
• Train 650, an inbound train that arrives at Chicago at 4:59 p.m., will not operate.
• Train 637, the 5:06 departure from Chicago, and Train 643, the 5:20 p.m. departure from Chicago will each make an additional stop at Palatine.
• Train 645, the 5:23 p.m. departure from Chicago, will make additional stops at Gladstone Park and Norwood Park.
• Train 601 will depart Chicago at 1 a.m.

UNION PACIFIC WEST
Extra Service:

• Train GX01 will depart Chicago at 2:34 p.m., express to Elmhurst and make all stops to LaFox.
• Train GX03 will depart Chicago at 3:34 p.m., express to Elmhurst and make all stops to LaFox.

Service Changes:

• Train 49, the 5:09 p.m. departure from Chicago, will not operate.
• Train 55, the 5:34 p.m. departure from Chicago, will not operate.
• Train 51, the 5:13 p.m. departure from Chicago, will make additional stops at Lombard and College Avenue.
• Train 57, the 5:42 p.m. departure from Chicago, will make an additional stop at Oak Park.
• Train 11 will depart Chicago at 1:10 a.m.

Saturday, July 2, 2016

A Saturday schedule will be in effect on July 2 with the following changes.

BNSF
Service Changes:

• Train 1325 will depart Chicago at 1 a.m.

MILWAUKEE NORTH
Service Changes:

• Train 2627 will depart Chicago at 1 a.m.

MILWAUKEE WEST
Service Changes:

• Train 2725 will depart Chicago at 1 a.m.

ROCK ISLAND
Service Changes:

• Train 233 will depart Chicago at 1 a.m.

UNION PACIFIC NORTH
Service Changes:

• Train 301 will depart Chicago at 1:05 a.m.

UNION PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Service Changes:

• Train 601 will depart Chicago at 1 a.m.

UNION PACIFIC WEST
Service Changes:

• Train 11 will depart Chicago at 1:10 a.m.

Sunday, July 3, 2016

A Sunday/Holiday schedule will be in effect on July 3 with the following changes.

BNSF
Service Changes:

• Train 1325 will depart Chicago at 1 AM.

MILWAUKEE NORTH
Service Changes:

• Train 2627 will depart Chicago at 1 a.m.

MILWAUKEE WEST
Service Changes:

• Train 2725 will depart Chicago at 1 a.m.

UNION PACIFIC NORTH
Service Changes:

• Train 301 will depart Chicago at 1:05 a.m.

UNION PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Extra Service:

• Train HX03 will depart Chicago at 6:20 p.m., express to Des Plaines and make all stops to Crystal Lake.
• Train HX05 will depart Chicago at 11:20 p.m., express to Des Plaines and make all stops to Crystal Lake.

Service Changes:

• Train 601 will depart Chicago at 1 a.m.

UNION PACIFIC WEST
Extra Service:

• Train GX01 will depart Chicago at 6:30 p.m., express to Elmhurst and make all stops to Elburn.

Service Changes:

• Train 11 will depart Chicago at 1:10 a.m.

Monday, July 4, 2016

A Sunday/Holiday schedule will be in effect on July 4 with the following changes.

BNSF
Service Changes:

• Train 1323 will depart Chicago at 11 p.m.

MILWAUKEE NORTH
Service Changes:

• Train 2625 will depart Chicago at 11 p.m.

MILWAUKEE WEST
Service Changes:

• Train 2723 will depart Chicago at 11 p.m.

UNION PACIFIC NORTH
Service Changes:

• Train 833 will depart Chicago at 11 p.m.

UNION PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Extra Service:

• Train HX03 will depart Chicago at 6:20 p.m., express to Des Plaines and make all stops to Crystal Lake.
• Train HX05 will depart Chicago at 11:20 p.m., express to Des Plaines and make all stops to Crystal Lake.

UNION PACIFIC WEST
Extra Service:

• Train GX01 will depart Chicago at 6:30 p.m., express to Elmhurst and make all stops to Elburn.

Service Changes:

• Train 517 will depart Chicago at 11:05 p.m.