Roads Choked with Cars This Afternoon: Labor Day Weekend Travel Info

Millions of people will be traveling Illinois highways, tollways and railways, and through Chicago's airports, during this Labor Day weekend — the busiest of travel holidays.

If you're traveling, this is what you need to know.

On the Highways

• 7.8 million people will be driving on the Illinois tollway, the Toll Highway Authority projects; 1.9 million will be on the tollway today, about 300,000 more vehicles than a typical weekday
• 13 people died in Labor Day weekend crashes in Illinois last year; three drivers involved in those crashes tested positive for alcohol, according to IDOT
• tollway drivers who need roadway assistance can dial *999 to get help 24/7 from the Tollway’s roadway maintenance crews or from Illinois State Police District 15
• Highway Emergency Lane Patrol (H.E.L.P.) trucks will patrol the 292-mile Tollway system from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both Friday, Sept. 2, and on Monday, Sept. 5

On the Railways

• Metra's $8 weekend pass will include Monday this weekend; kids younger than 11 can ride for free
• on Labor Day, Metra will operate all services on a Sunday/holiday schedule. Metra SouthWest Service, Heritage Corridor and North Central Service trains will not operate on Labor Day
• alcohol restrictions will be in effect and no alcohol will be allowed on Metra trains after 7 p.m. on on Friday, Sept. 2 and all day Saturday, Sept. 3 and Sunday, Sept. 4

At the Airports

• more than 1.7 million passengers are expected at O’Hare and Midway airports between Sept. 1 and Sept. 6; today is projected to be the busiest day at O'Hare Airport, with 251,000 passengers
• free lemonade will be served at Midway Airport today and Tuesday

Weather and Fun

Labor Day Weekend Weather: Sunny Skies

• BEACH HAZARDS WARNING: Beautiful days ahead, but be very careful if you're planning a trip to the beach.

5 Fun Things to Do Over Labor Day Weekend

• Chicagoans will celebrate the end of summer with numerous Labor Day weekend events. Here are the best five.

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Tollway Construction

Most temporary maintenance and construction lane closures will be suspended through 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Some work may continue behind barriers to keep work on schedule. Areas where work zones will continue to be in place during the holiday include:

Jane Adams Memorial Tollway (I-90)

Between the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and the Elgin Toll Plaza, traffic shifts are in place for the I- 90 Rebuilding and Widening Project. On eastbound I-90 between Higgins Road (Illinois Route 72) in Rosemont and the River Road Toll Plaza, traffic is split with a work zone in the middle. Traffic on the right has access to southbound I-294 and O’Hare International Airport and traffic on the left has access to northbound I-294 and the Kennedy Expressway. At the River Road Toll Plaza, one open road tolling lane and one I-PASS or Pay Online lane and three manned lanes on the cash side of the plaza are closed.

Illinois Route 390 Tollway

Work continues on the Illinois Route 390 Tollway with construction along Thorndale Avenue from I-290 to Illinois Route 83 and on the I-290 Interchange. Traffic is shifted onto frontage roads in both directions between I-290 and York Road. On I-290 between Devon Avenue and Irving Park Road, traffic is shifted in both directions.

Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88)

Between U.S. Route 30 in Rock Falls and Chicago Avenue (U.S. Route 52) near Dixon, traffic is reduced to one lane in both directions. The ramp carrying U.S. Route 30 to eastbound I-88 is closed with a posted detour. At the Farnsworth Avenue Interchange, the ramps connecting eastbound I-88 to northbound Farnsworth Avenue and northbound Farnsworth Avenue to westbound I-88 are permanently closed with posted detours. Traffic on southbound Farnsworth Avenue is shifted to the right and traffic on northbound Farnsworth Avenue is shifted to the left with one open lane.

Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355)

On southbound I-355 between 71st Street and 75th Street, traffic is shifted to the left and the ramps connecting southbound I-355 with 75th Street are shifted to the right.