Dan Ryan Lane Closures in August

CHICAGO, Ill., July 29 -- The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced today that the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-94/90) will undergo local lane reductions the weekend of August 12th from 31st Street to 47th Street. Similar to the work performed earlier this month, these lane reductions will take place during weekend hours only and are necessary as IDOT "Road Doctors" complete concrete patching operations in the affected nine mile section of the Dan Ryan. IDOT is announcing the following schedule of local lane closures (weather permitting):

   -- One Local lane will be closed on both the northbound and southbound
      Dan Ryan from 31st Street to 47th Street.  The northbound lane will
      close Friday, August 12th at 8:00 PM and will open Monday, August 15th
      at 5:00 AM.  The southbound lane will close Friday at 9:00 PM and open
      Monday at 6:00 AM.
   -- To facilitate patching operations, a second lane will close from 31st
      Street to 47th Street from Friday, August 12th (northbound at 11:00 PM
      and southbound at 11:59 PM) until Saturday, August 13th (northbound at
      6:00 AM and southbound 7:00 AM).

Additional weekend lane reductions for future patching operations will be determined, pending weather conditions. Trucks will be allowed to use the express lanes during local lane closures. The local lane patching operation is in preparation for the mainline construction beginning in the spring of 2006.

This work is part of the $600 million four-year Dan Ryan Expressway reconstruction project from 31st Street to 95th Street. The improved Dan Ryan will include an additional lane in each direction, a reconfigured Skyway interchange and upgrades to the local access roads that run parallel to the expressway. The project goals include improving safety for motorists, reducing commuting time on the city's busiest expressway and creating jobs.

For the most updated information, call 1-877-411-IDOT or visit http://www.danryanexpressway.com/ .