(CHICAGO) The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced that the Reagan Memorial Tollway (Interstate 88) exit ramps to Illinois 59, in Naperville, will be closed from Friday, Sept. 11, to Monday, Sept. 21, to make preparations for the new diverging diamond interchange at this location.

 The closures and detours routes are as follows:  

• On Friday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m., the westbound tollway ramp to Illinois 59 will be closed. Westbound traffic will be detoured to the Winfield Road interchange to access Illinois 59 via Butterfield Road (Illinois 56). The ramp will reopen Sept. 21 by 5 a.m.
• The eastbound tollway ramp to Illinois 59 will close at the same time. Eastbound traffic will be detoured to the Eola Road interchange to access Illinois 59 via Butterfield Road. The ramp will reopen Sept. 21 by 5 a.m.

Additionally, there will be limited access from Illinois 59 to the tollway entrance ramps while the exit ramps are closed. The restrictions and detour information are as follows:

• Northbound Illinois 59 entrance ramp to the westbound tollway will be closed. Northbound Illinois 59 traffic will be detoured to Butterfield Road, Eola Road and Bilter Road to access the westbound tollway ramp at the Eola Road interchange.
• Southbound Illinois 59 to the eastbound tollway entrance ramp will be closed. Southbound Illinois 59 traffic will be detoured to Butterfield Road and Winfield Road to access the eastbound tollway ramp at the Winfield Road interchange.

The new interchange between the Reagan Memorial Tollway and Illinois 59, part of the ongoing widening and reconstruction of Illinois 59 through Aurora and Naperville, will be open when the closures are removed. Illinois 59 will be restricted to two lanes in each direction over the tollway until the widening and reconstruction project is finished in late September.

The diverging diamond design will be the first of its kind in the Chicago area. The first one in Illinois opened earlier this summer at Interstate 57 and Illinois 13 in Marion.

The new configuration will provide improved safety features, additional roadway capacity, reduced crash potential and improved roadway geometrics to further enhance safety, facilitate traffic flow and relieve congestion.

A video simulation on how the new interchange will function can be viewed here.

For addition information and background on the larger Illinois 59 project, visit www.idot.illinois.gov/projects/il59-reconstruction-and-widening-project.

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.

Click here to find details on other construction projects in IDOT’s District 1. Updates on the impacts to traffic are available at www.travelmidwest.com.

Source: Travel Midwest – Construction Announcements