The Illinois Tollway announced on March 30 that lane reductions and traffic shifts will begin next week at the Arlington Heights Road and Barrington Road interchanges on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) as part of ongoing toll plaza improvements. The work, which includes removing toll plaza canopies and making infrastructure upgrades, is expected to continue into 2027.
These changes are intended to improve traffic flow and operations at the interchanges. Electronic message signs and construction signage will be placed in advance to alert drivers about upcoming closures and shifts. Up-to-date information will be available on the Illinois Tollway website through daily construction alerts. All work is dependent on weather conditions.
According to the announcement, extended lane reductions at Arlington Heights Interchange will last through the end of this year, while similar measures at Barrington Road Interchange will extend into 2027. The project includes removing existing canopies and barrier walls, installing new monotube structures for tolling equipment, ramp pavement work, shoulder repairs, electrical upgrades, lighting enhancements, and updated signage.
Specific closures are scheduled soon: On Friday, March 27, eastbound I-90 traffic heading toward Arlington Heights Road will be reduced to a single lane; on Sunday, March 29, westbound I-90 traffic exiting to Barrington Road faces a similar reduction. Weekend-long detours for further equipment installation are planned later in the year. These efforts are being coordinated with local municipalities including Cook County authorities as well as fire and police departments from surrounding communities.
This initiative is part of Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future—a $15 billion capital program spanning sixteen years—and also aligns with Bridging the Future—a seven-year $2 billion plan approved by directors in December 2024 aimed at continuing modernization initiatives based on stakeholder input.
The agency reminds motorists that construction zone speed limits remain in effect around-the-clock in all active zones. Drivers must comply with state laws requiring them to move over or slow down when approaching vehicles with hazard lights activated; penalties for violations include substantial fines or jail time depending on severity.
