Traffic on Illinois Rte. 47 has been shifted onto new pavement and a new bridge over the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) in time for the evening rush hour today, as part of the Illinois Tollway’s Rte. 47 Interchange Project in Huntley. The work on Illinois Rte. 47 is under way to prepare for construction of a new all-electronic interchange.
“Completion of what will become the new southbound lanes and bridge on Illinois Rte. 47 is a great sign of progress for this important interchange project,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “Not only will this project improve access for Tollway customers traveling to and from Huntley, it will also offer opportunities for new jobs and economic development in the area.”
With completion of the traffic shift from Del Webb Boulevard to Big Timber Road, the Illinois Tollway will be able to begin work this winter to demolish the old bridge and roadway pavement and begin construction of a new bridge that will carry northbound Illinois Rte. 47 traffic when the new interchange opens in 2013. In addition to building the new bridge structures, the project also includes the reconstruction and widening of 1.5 miles of Illinois Rte. 47 from Big Timber Road to north of Jim Dhamer Drive and Freeman Road.
A work zone will be put in place on Illinois Rte. 47 and local traffic will continue to have one lane open in both directions on the new southbound bridge during construction. Existing ramps providing access for drivers traveling to and from the east on I-90 will remain open to provide access throughout the project.
The Illinois Rte. 47 Interchange Project includes construction of six new ramps with all-electronic toll plazas, reconstruction of the bridge carrying Illinois Rte. 47 over I-90 and local traffic signal installation and lighting improvements to provide full access between I-90 and Illinois Rte. 47.
The $61 million project is being built in partnership with the village of Huntley, Kane County, McHenry County and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) as part of the Tollway’s 15-year, $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. The interchange is scheduled to be completed in 2013.
