4th Of July Travel Guide: 4.7 Million Cars Expected On The Road

More than 4.7 million vehicles expected to travel Illinois tollways this upcoming holiday from Tuesday, July 3, through Thursday, July 5 according to the Illinois Tollway. There are several areas under construction on the roads, and the Tollway is urging drivers to slow down in work zones and avoid distracted driving when traveling this Fourth of July holiday.

The Illinois State Police will also be increased visibility and enforcement efforts, watching for anyone driving under the influence, the Tollway said. Troopers will also focus on identifying traffic violations related to speeding, distracted driving and seatbelt use to help keep motorists safe.

The Tollway said in a release the heaviest travel is expected July 3, when nearly 1.9 million vehicles are projected to use the Tollway system. On an average day, more than 1.6 million vehicles use the Illinois Tollway.

“With construction taking place throughout the Tollway system, it’s vitally important for drivers entering work zones to slow down and eliminate any distractions so they can focus on safety,” Illinois
Tollway Executive Director Liz Gorman said in a release. “Work zone safety is everyone’s responsibility. The actions drivers take when traveling through work zones can prevent accidents and save lives.”

To accommodate heavier traffic, the Tollway said construction activity will be restricted. Most temporary maintenance and construction lane closures will be suspended from noon on Tuesday, July 3, through 9 a.m. on Thursday, July 5. Some work may continue behind barriers to keep work on schedule, but this work will not impact traffic.

Here is where construction is currently taking place:

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

• On I-294, southbound traffic between Grand Avenue and Franklin Street near Schiller Park is shifted.
• At 159th Street, traffic is shifted right in both directions. In addition, the ramps carrying traffic from eastbound 159th Street to northbound I-294 and from southbound I-294 to eastbound 159th Street are closed with detours posted.

Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88)

• Between I-290 and York Road, traffic is shifted in both directions. Westbound drivers must travel in the right lane on I-88 to access the cash side of the York Road Toll Plaza as well as the 22nd Street exit ramp.
• Between Illinois Route 56 and Illinois Route 251, traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction in segments.
• At Annie Glidden Road, the ramp carrying traffic to eastbound I-88 from Annie Glidden Road is closed with a detour posted.

Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355)

• Between Butterfield Road and Army Trail Road, traffic is shifted to the right in both directions.

The Tollway offers the following ways for drivers to get the latest travel information before they get on the road. You can check:

• illinoistollway.com – Interactive Tollway Map for – construction information, Tollway Trip Calculator, live roadway images
• travelmidwest.com – Real-time travel times
• twitter.com – Real-time roadway incident information at @Tollway Trip 90, @Tollway Trip 88, @Tollway Trip 355, @Tollway Trip 94/294 and @Tollway Trip 390

Image via Shutterstock.