Driving 'Up North' for the Fourth? Better Leave Early

The Illinois Tollway is advising customers driving to and from their leisure destinations this Fourth of July holiday and throughout the summer to avoid traffic delays by leaving early and staying late. 

Tollway statistics show that approximately 35 percent of all vehicles traveling westbound on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) toward Wisconsin over the summer months will head out of town during the peak travel period, typically from 1 to 5 p.m. on Friday. Customers who travel out of town for the weekend this summer can avoid heavier traffic by leaving before noon on Fridays and waiting until after 6 p.m. to return home on Sunday evenings.

The Illinois Tollway is expecting more than 6.5 million vehicles will travel the Tollway system this Fourth of July holiday from Wednesday, July 3, through Sunday, July 7. The heaviest travel is anticipated onWednesday, July 3, when more than 1.6 million vehicles are projected to be on the road. On an average day, about 1.4 million vehicles use the Tollway.

“One way our customers can make their summer road trips more enjoyable is to leave early and stay late to avoid the combination of rush hour commuter traffic and leisure travelers who are headed out of town for the weekend,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “This is especially true for leisure travelers who are using the Jane Addams this summer.” 

Ongoing construction will have an impact on travel this summer on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90). As part of the $2.2 billion I-90 Rebuilding and Widening Project, work is underway on the eastbound lanes between Rockford and Elgin and all traffic is traveling on the westbound side of the road. Two lanes are being maintained in both directions during peak hours. However, westbound traffic between Irene Road near Belvidere and I-39 is currently reduced to one lane and an alternate route is posted. Traffic is expected to remain in this configuration through this fall.

Depending on the destination, traffic traveling west to Rockford and Wisconsin can use the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) to I-39 as an alternate route. Likewise, traffic travelling east toward Chicago and O’Hare International Airport can use the I-39/I-88 alternate route.

SOURCE: Illinois Tollway