Grand Avenue Ramp Work to Begin

The Illinois State Tollway announced that beginning the week of February 23, one eastbound lane of I-94 is scheduled to close for three days, weather permitting, to provide a work zone for construction of new Grand Avenue exit signage. A second three-day closure is scheduled for the week of March 2.

The construction is part of a $19.4 million project - the Grand Avenue Interchange Project - that is scheduled to be completed in 2015. The $19.4 million Grand Avenue (Illinois Route 132) Interchange Project includes rebuilding seven of the eight ramps that make up the interchange with work scheduled to be complete in 2015. The project includes replacement of existing ramps to extend the life of the interchange and provide smooth pavement for drivers. In addition, several of the ramps will be realigned and widened, allowing traffic to flow more freely. The ramp carrying traffic from Grand Avenue to eastbound I-94 was reconstructed as part of the rebuilding and widening of I-94 completed in 2009.

During the week of March 2, the ramp carrying traffic from eastbound Grand Avenue to westbound I-94 is scheduled to close with a detour for approximately two months for ramp reconstruction. Work on this ramp includes removing and replacing concrete pavement and asphalt shoulders.

The detour will direct drivers on Grand Avenue to take eastbound I-94, exit at Milwaukee Avenue (Illinois Route 21) and reenter westbound I-94. An additional local road detour will also be posted, directing traffic east along Grand Avenue and south on Milwaukee Avenue to enter westbound I-94. More than 1,000 vehicles use this ramp daily.

Also in early March, work is scheduled to begin on the ramp carrying traffic from westbound I-94 to eastbound Grand Avenue, including reconstruction to improve traffic flow. Retaining wall construction will continue along the east side of I-94 south of Grand Avenue and on the ramp carrying westbound I-94 traffic to eastbound Grand Avenue to prepare for the start of spring construction.

In 2015, three ramps at the Grand Avenue Interchange will be reconstructed, including the ramps from westbound I-94 to eastbound Grand Avenue and from westbound Grand Avenue to eastbound I-94, as well as the ramp from eastbound Grand Avenue to westbound I-94 which will be closed with a detour during construction. Ramp improvements include removing and replacing concrete pavement and asphalt shoulders. In 2014, the Tollway completed work on the ramps carrying I-94 traffic in both directions to westbound Grand Avenue and the ramps carrying westbound Grand Avenue traffic to westbound I-94 and eastbound Grand Avenue to eastbound I-94.

The above information was provided by the Illinois Tollway.