8.8 Million Vehicles Expected On Illinois Tollway For Thanksgiving

ILLINOIS – As many as 8.8 million vehicles are expected to drive the Illinois Tollway system during this year’s Thanksgiving holiday from Nov. 22 to Nov. 27, according to a release from the Illinois Tollway.

The heaviest travel is expected on Wednesday, when nearly 1.8 million vehicles are projected to use the Tollway system. On an average day, 1.5 million vehicles use the system, the Tollway said in a release.

“Before getting behind the wheel this Thanksgiving holiday, we remind our I-PASS and Pay By Plate customers that they can use the Illinois Tollway App to temporarily add rental cars or out-of-town family and friends’ vehicles to their accounts to conveniently pay tolls,” Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse said in a release. “It’s our goal to make travel simple and convenient for customers.”

• Here's When To Expect Most Thanksgiving Traffic In Chicago

To help make travel easier for drivers, the Illinois Tollway said it will suspend most temporary maintenance and construction lane closures from noon on Wednesday through 9 a.m. on Nov 27. However, construction may continue in existing work zones to keep work on schedule for ongoing Illinois Tollway construction projects.

Areas where drivers can expect to still see construction:

• Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80)

On I-294 between Wolf Road and 75th Street, traffic shifts in both directions with counterflow lanes throughout the Central Tri-State corridor. Watch for signage indicating changing traffic patterns.

On I-294, the ramps from westbound I-290 to northbound I-294, from northbound I-294 to eastbound I-290 and westbound Roosevelt Road to southbound I-294 are closed and detours are posted. In addition, the ramp connecting northbound I-294 to westbound I-290 is reduced to a single lane.

On I-294, I-294 between 95th Street and the 83rd Street Toll Plaza, northbound traffic is shifted.
On I-294 between 171st Street and 159th Street, traffic is shifted.

• Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355)

At the I-88 Interchange, the ramps carrying eastbound I-88 to northbound I-355 and southbound I-355 to eastbound and westbound I-88 are reduced.

According to the Tollway, it offers Tollway Trip Tweets with real-time roadway incident information and weather conditions at Tollway Trip 90, Tollway Trip 88, Tollway Trip 355, Tollway Trip 94/294 and Tollway Trip 390.

Related: Rainy, Windy Start To Week Before Cooler Thanksgiving For Chicago Area