ForConstructionPros.com

The Illinois Tollway is currently investing $180.2 million to reconstruct and widen a 16-mile section of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) near Rockford, IL between the Newburg Road Intersection north to Rockton Road just south of the Wisconsin border. Work to reconstruct and widen the interstate roadway to three lanes in each direction began last year as part of the Tollway's multi-billion dollar Congestion-Relief Program designed to rebuild and restore most of the 286-mile system.

With eastbound traffic now shifted to the westbound lanes of the divided roadway, general contractor Rockford Blacktop Construction Co. of Loves Park, IL, and subcontractor Rock Road Companies of Janesville, WI, have been working around the clock to reconstruct and widen the eastbound portion of the project. Advance work on the project was completed in 2007 and included shoulder resurfacing to accommodate the traffic load of two open lanes in each direction, construction of median crossovers, adjustments in existing guardrail and intermittent pavement repairs.

The section of interstate being reconstructed and widened carries the highest percentage of trucks in the entire Tollway System. On the east end of the project near Newburg Road, Average Daily Traffic numbers in 2007 were recorded at 29,000 vehicles in each direction.

On the west end of the project near Rockton Road, ADT numbers of 24,000 vehicles were recorded in 2007. To relieve the congestion of this section and provide a safer corridor, the Tollway's widening design from two to three travel lanes is being accomplished by changing the median from an open drainage ditch system to a closed drainage system with concrete median barrier wall.

The existing roadway is being recycled into either new asphalt pavement or new aggregate base. All aggregate base material recycling is being done on-site to save in trucking costs and reduce vehicle emissions.