I-88 eola intrchnge opening 11.09

[refbasics]

www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1834141,2_1_AU20_TOLLWAY_S1-091020.article#

Tollway nightmare almost over
Fall finish: Rebuilding, widening projects enter homestretch

October 20, 2009

By MARY WISNIEWSKI Sun-Times News Group
Two years of 45-mph construction speed limits, uneven pavement, narrowed lanes and ramp closings are finally drawing to a close.

This fall, the Illinois Tollway expects to finish its two-year rebuilding and widening projects on the Tri-State (I-294) and the Veterans (I-355), Reagan (I-88) and Jane Addams (I-90) memorial tollways. The $3.5 billion job was the biggest overhaul since the system was built 50 years ago.

If the weather cooperates, the Tollway expects to finish the resurfacing and widening of I-355 by the end of October; I-90 and the south Tri-State and the Eola interchange in Aurora by the end of November; and the north Tri-State and I-88 by the end of December.

Some landscaping work will continue after the lanes open to drivers, explained Tollway spokesman Joelle McGinnis.

The repairs, the Tollway promises, mean that most pavement will not need major construction for 30 years.

When the work is all done, here's what drivers will see:

• I-88 with four lanes in each direction from the Eisenhower Expressway to Route 59 in Aurora-Naperville, then three lanes in each direction to Orchard Road in Aurora. Crews widened the bridge at the Fox River.

• I-355 from 75th Street to I-88 with four lanes in each direction.

• The south Tri-State with four lanes open in each direction. Most of this is complete, but there have been some lane closures because of work on noise walls.

• West I-90 with three lanes in each direction, instead of two.

The Eola Interchange on I-88 in Aurora will open in November with I-Pass-only collections. There will be no cash tolls.

Some of these extra lanes may one day be turned over to carpools and buses. Last month, Pace and the Illinois Tollway applied for $200 million in federal funds to put high-occupancy vehicle or "HOV" (high-occupancy vehicle) lanes for buses and cars on I-294.

The rebuilding and rewidening project has been part of a $6.3 billion "congestion relief program" that started with the conversion to open-road tolling in 2005.

[Arch]

12 minutes to go via Eola, North from N. Aurora road to the very first right-turn in at MVHS this morning... 7:58 -> 8:10

WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

[momto4]

Nov 17, 2009 8:43:31 GMT -6 Arch said:

12 minutes to go via Eola, North from N. Aurora road to the very first right-turn in at MVHS this morning... 7:58 -> 8:10

WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Yes, the major road construction in the area is a pain for everyone, especially those of us who live nearby. Luckily it will be done very soon.

[Arch]

Nov 17, 2009 8:50:04 GMT -6 momto4 said:

Nov 17, 2009 8:43:31 GMT -6 Arch said:

12 minutes to go via Eola, North from N. Aurora road to the very first right-turn in at MVHS this morning... 7:58 -> 8:10

WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Yes, the major road construction in the area is a pain for everyone, especially those of us who live nearby. Luckily it will be done very soon.

My empathies on having to put up with that on a constant daily basis. It would drive me insane.

[doctorwho]

Nov 17, 2009 8:43:31 GMT -6 Arch said:

12 minutes to go via Eola, North from N. Aurora road to the very first right-turn in at MVHS this morning... 7:58 -> 8:10

WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

and that construction will be replaced by exiting trucks and in 2 years adding 1200 juniors and seniors driving to the school -- all at the same time

of course you know Arch - it's only 9-12 minutes from our house ( pretty good for 7.5 mles) - look in the archives for some of those sorry mapquests sent out


very glad I have nothing to do with it

[Arch]

I admit, it did puzzle me with seeing the backup problem in the past being the same thing reversed in the afternoon... backed up from N. Aurora up towards the interchange to the North, where the construction isn't a factor at that point.. But yes... add in student drivers in the coming years and the people who were diverting on N. Aurora itself to get over to Rt 59 and it's going to be fun fun fun.

[momto4]

Nov 17, 2009 9:03:26 GMT -6 Arch said:

Nov 17, 2009 8:50:04 GMT -6 momto4 said:

Yes, the major road construction in the area is a pain for everyone, especially those of us who live nearby. Luckily it will be done very soon.

My empathies on having to put up with that on a constant daily basis. It would drive me insane.

Thanks. I truly wasn't trying to one-up you this morning on the way to work, but here's what happened on east-bound Diehl. I was the 6th vehicle waiting at the light. I sat through SEVEN green lights before any cars were allowed to cross Eola on a red light. 13 minutes to go that short distance.

[Arch]

Nov 17, 2009 15:57:00 GMT -6 momto4 said:

Nov 17, 2009 9:03:26 GMT -6 Arch said:

My empathies on having to put up with that on a constant daily basis. It would drive me insane.

Thanks. I truly wasn't trying to one-up you this morning on the way to work, but here's what happened on east-bound Diehl. I was the 6th vehicle waiting at the light. I sat through SEVEN green lights before any cars were allowed to cross Eola on a red light. 13 minutes to go that short distance.

I've sat through west bound Diehl trying to left turn south on Eola before in the afternoon with similar experiences, but 4 cycles not 7; of course, with no working turn arrows (not sure if they are there and working yet)... Problem was the left turn lanes never activated because the sensors were 2 lanes over and not actually installed yet... Ugh, what a mess.

Have you installed the homedics massage pads in the carseats yet? ;D If I had to do that every day I'd need those for starters.

[momto4]

Nov 17, 2009 17:48:31 GMT -6 Arch said:

Nov 17, 2009 15:57:00 GMT -6 momto4 said:

Thanks. I truly wasn't trying to one-up you this morning on the way to work, but here's what happened on east-bound Diehl. I was the 6th vehicle waiting at the light. I sat through SEVEN green lights before any cars were allowed to cross Eola on a red light. 13 minutes to go that short distance.

I've sat through west bound Diehl trying to left turn south on Eola before in the afternoon with similar experiences, but 4 cycles not 7; of course, with no working turn arrows (not sure if they are there and working yet)... Problem was the left turn lanes never activated because the sensors were 2 lanes over and not actually installed yet... Ugh, what a mess.

Have you installed the homedics massage pads in the carseats yet? ;D If I had to do that every day I'd need those for starters.

4 cycles to turn left there is pretty unusual, with or without the turn signal functioning. I take that left turn several times a week and rarely do I not get through on the first light, even during road construction and during busy times. Yesterday was an anomaly because of the surfacing work they were doing at or near the intersection. This morning's traffic near MVHS was very light.

That sounds like a nice thing to have for the car seats! Most of my trips are short so that might be overkill...

[Arch]

That condition was Nov 3 around 4:15pm Lanes were 1 lane either direction, diverted over to the right most lanes of the westbound side as they were doing build up/asphalt/other road construction stuff... and a steady stream of cars coming east bound (no left turn arrows working) so only 1, two tops got to go through on the red after the cycle. Mostly a left turner just acted like a cork and if you had two in a row, they blocked the ability to swerve around them and let westbound diehl continue.

[Arch]

Eola Road interchange opens today

Comments
November 21, 2009
By ERIKA WURST [e-mail]
AURORA -- Drivers on Interstate 88 should see fewer brake lights this holiday season when they make their early-morning and late-afternoon commutes, thanks to the completion of the Eola Road interchange, which opens today.

After more than a decade of planning and anticipation, the project finished on time and $14 million under budget, Joelle McGinnis of the Illinois Tollway Authority said.

The new interchange includes four ramps which will allow drivers to enter and exit I-88 via Bilter and Diehl roads, which could reduce congestion at Farnsworth Avenue and Route 59 interchanges.

"It's going to be a lot easier," said Oswego resident David Roe, who uses I-88 at least four times a week to get to the city. "I waited to turn onto 59 from Diehl for 20 minutes one time."

Getting to I-88 is more than half the battle, Roe said. He sees feeder roads often clogged with semis and stop-and-go traffic that never seems to go anywhere. Average daily traffic volumes between Route 59 and Farnsworth Avenue have grown from 8,100 vehicles in 1970 to 92,000 in 2008, according to the Illinois Tollway Authority.

"For too long (the tollway) has been isolated with one or two passageways," Aurora Alderman Stephanie Kifowit said Friday during the interchange's grand-opening celebration. "This will give drivers more choices and get people moving."

DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom, Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner and Naperville Mayor George Pradel all gathered on the ramp Friday afternoon before its overnight unveiling. The group commended everyone involved in the project.

"The new interchange at Eola Road is an excellent example of what government can accomplish when state and local agencies work together," Tollway Authority Acting Executive Director Michael King said.

The project's $36 million cost was covered half by the Tollway Authority, with DuPage County and the city of Aurora funding the remainder of the construction and right-of-way costs.

Weisner said the interchange is good for Aurora because it will enhance development potential and strengthen the city's tax base.

Over the next decade, industrial warehouse space, office, retail and hotel developments are expected to pop up on or near Eola, creating thousands of job opportunities.

During construction, more than 100 workers were on site daily. The work, which began in mid-April and included improvements along Diehl, Bilter and Eola roads, is expected to be complete by the end or the year.

"It's just a really good idea. Traffic on 59 is always bad," said Lisa Harper of Plainfield, who works at a coffee shop off Eola Road. "Now I'm afraid of all the traffic coming to Eola."

Even drivers with no intention of using the new interchange are rejoicing.

"I'm up and down Route 59 often," said Aurora resident Ron Snow. "I'm hoping that all of this traffic getting off 88 will go farther West and create some relief."

That's the plan. The Tollway Authority has invested $6.3 billion in its congestion-relief program. Part of this was creating the state's first all-electronic toll collection site at the Eola interchange. Drivers paying with cash must exit at Farnsworth Avenue or Route 59, while I-PASS holders fly on through.

"This project is an excellent example of the continued cooperation between the tollway and our neighbors and embraces exciting new technology as we build the first all-electronic toll collection facility on the Illinois Tollway," said Pradel, who also serves on the tollway board. "The Eola Road interchange project is a win-win for tollway commuters and residents of Aurora and Naperville."

www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1896522,2_1_AU21_EOLA_S1-091121.article#

[Arch]

One has to wonder why Kinder Morgan has been silent when asked about what they are doing in light of new data that the old way of predicting pipeline failure has been shown to be faulty. It has been almost another 90 days since inquiry.... and again... silence...

One would think that bodies like a School Board, or even a Mayor would want these things investigated and reported back especially if they just put in a shiny new school and plan future development in the area.

[refbasics]

Nov 21, 2009 1:37:33 GMT -6 Arch said:

Eola Road interchange opens today

Comments
November 21, 2009
By ERIKA WURST [e-mail]
AURORA -- Drivers on Interstate 88 should see fewer brake lights this holiday season when they make their early-morning and late-afternoon commutes, thanks to the completion of the Eola Road interchange, which opens today.

After more than a decade of planning and anticipation, the project finished on time and $14 million under budget, Joelle McGinnis of the Illinois Tollway Authority said.

The new interchange includes four ramps which will allow drivers to enter and exit I-88 via Bilter and Diehl roads, which could reduce congestion at Farnsworth Avenue and Route 59 interchanges.

"It's going to be a lot easier," said Oswego resident David Roe, who uses I-88 at least four times a week to get to the city. "I waited to turn onto 59 from Diehl for 20 minutes one time."

Getting to I-88 is more than half the battle, Roe said. He sees feeder roads often clogged with semis and stop-and-go traffic that never seems to go anywhere. Average daily traffic volumes between Route 59 and Farnsworth Avenue have grown from 8,100 vehicles in 1970 to 92,000 in 2008, according to the Illinois Tollway Authority.

"For too long (the tollway) has been isolated with one or two passageways," Aurora Alderman Stephanie Kifowit said Friday during the interchange's grand-opening celebration. "This will give drivers more choices and get people moving."

DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom, Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner and Naperville Mayor George Pradel all gathered on the ramp Friday afternoon before its overnight unveiling. The group commended everyone involved in the project.

"The new interchange at Eola Road is an excellent example of what government can accomplish when state and local agencies work together," Tollway Authority Acting Executive Director Michael King said.

The project's $36 million cost was covered half by the Tollway Authority, with DuPage County and the city of Aurora funding the remainder of the construction and right-of-way costs.

Weisner said the interchange is good for Aurora because it will enhance development potential and strengthen the city's tax base.

Over the next decade, industrial warehouse space, office, retail and hotel developments are expected to pop up on or near Eola, creating thousands of job opportunities.

During construction, more than 100 workers were on site daily. The work, which began in mid-April and included improvements along Diehl, Bilter and Eola roads, is expected to be complete by the end or the year.

"It's just a really good idea. Traffic on 59 is always bad," said Lisa Harper of Plainfield, who works at a coffee shop off Eola Road. "Now I'm afraid of all the traffic coming to Eola."

Even drivers with no intention of using the new interchange are rejoicing.

"I'm up and down Route 59 often," said Aurora resident Ron Snow. "I'm hoping that all of this traffic getting off 88 will go farther West and create some relief."

That's the plan. The Tollway Authority has invested $6.3 billion in its congestion-relief program. Part of this was creating the state's first all-electronic toll collection site at the Eola interchange. Drivers paying with cash must exit at Farnsworth Avenue or Route 59, while I-PASS holders fly on through.

"This project is an excellent example of the continued cooperation between the tollway and our neighbors and embraces exciting new technology as we build the first all-electronic toll collection facility on the Illinois Tollway," said Pradel, who also serves on the tollway board. "The Eola Road interchange project is a win-win for tollway commuters and residents of Aurora and Naperville."

www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1896522,2_1_AU21_EOLA_S1-091121.article#

-----------------------------
..'industries popping up nearby'...

then the SD will chime in... 'oh you can't build that there... there is a high school nearby... think of the safety of the children'......

[Arch]

Oh, it's already INDUSTRIAL ZONED... Too Bad! should be the response.

But yes... I can't wait for the hypocrites on that one. ;D