Illinois Tollway Expects 15.4 Million Vehicles Over Holidays

The Illinois Tollway expects 15.4 million vehicles will use the Tollway system during the Christmas and New Year's holidays between Dec. 23 and Jan. 3 2012 — a three percent increase over the same period in 2010.

The heaviest travel is anticipated Dec. 23 when the Tollway expects 1.6 million vehicles to be on the road. On an average day, about 1.4 million vehicles use the Tollway.

To accommodate increased holiday travel, the Tollway will suspend all temporary maintenance and construction lane closures from noon Dec. 23 until 9 a.m. Dec. 26, and from noon Dec. 30 until 9 a.m. Jan. 2, 2012. Some work may continue behind barriers to keep work on schedule, but this work will not impact traffic.

"The Illinois Tollway wishes a safe and happy holiday season to all of our customers," said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. "Drivers should remain alert with increased holiday traffic and remember that texting or emailing while driving is illegal and deadly."

It is illegal to text or email at any time while driving on Illinois roads. Drivers on the Illinois Tollway who need to check email or send a text message should pull over to a safe location. In Illinois, data indicates that cell phone distractions, including texting, were the primary or secondary cause of 1,119 vehicle crashes in 2010.

"Illinois Tollway Oases are great places for drivers to stop and access free Wi-Fi if they need to send an email or text message," said Lafleur. "As part of our annual tradition, the Oases will also provide late-night drivers a free cup of coffee on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve."

The Illinois Tollway and McDonald's and 7-Eleven will provide customers with a free small cup of coffee on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. at each of the seven Oases to help keep drivers safe and alert while traveling.

Oases locations include:

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90)

• Des Plaines Oasis
• Belvidere Oasis

Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80)

• Lake Forest Oasis
• O'Hare Oasis
• Hinsdale Oasis
• Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis

Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88)

• DeKalb Oasis

New Toll Rates On January 1, 2012

At midnight on Jan. 1, 2012, toll rates for cars will increase to help fund the Tollway's new capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future.  Rates vary by road, plaza and ramp.

For a complete list, visit www.illinoistollway.com
 
I-PASS customers will continue to pay 50 percent less than customers who pay cash.  To get an I-PASS:

• Visit an Illinois Tollway Customer Service Center, open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Visit one of Jewel-Osco's 180+ Northern Illinois locations
• Go online or call 1-800-UC-IPASS (800-824-7277).

Tollway Travel Tips

The Illinois Tollway offers the following tips to enhance travel on our roadways:

Rest and Refuel at a Tollway Oasis — The seven oases located along the system are home to retail shops and restaurants, including McDonald's, Starbucks, Subway and Panda Express. Each Oasis facility provides spacious food courts, ample seating featuring panoramic windows, kid-friendly spaces and an easy stop for texting, cellular and Wi-Fi services.

Know Before You Go — The Tollway offers a variety of ways for drivers to get the latest travel information, including:

• www.illinoistollway.com - Construction/Planning section
• 1-800-TOLL-FYI - Daily lane closure information
• www.travelmidwest.com - Real-time travel times
• Up-to-the-minute traffic by roadway - www.nbcchicago.com
• Sign up to receive the Tollway's eNewsletter - www.illinoistollway.com

Need Help?  Dial *999 — If your vehicle becomes disabled, park safely on the shoulder, raise your hood and remain in your vehicle. Dial *999 and assistance will be dispatched to your location.

Illinois State Police District 15 Out in Force

Illinois State Police District 15 will be out in force patrolling the Illinois Tollway throughout the holidays. District 15 Troopers will conduct roadside safety checks and will focus on the fatal four offenses, including speeding, DUI, seat belt enforcement and distracted driving.

About the Illinois Tollway

The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 286 miles of interstate tollways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80). 

About Move Illinois

The Illinois Tollway's $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, will improve mobility, relieve congestion, reduce pollution, create 120,000 jobs and link economies across the Midwest region.  Move Illinois will address the remaining needs of the existing Tollway system; rebuild and widen the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) as a state-of-the-art 21st century corridor; construct a new interchange to connect the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to I-57; build a new, all-electronic Elgin O'Hare West Bypass and fund planning studies for the Illinois Route 53 Extension and the Illiana Expressway.

Information provided by Illinois Tollway.