The final year of construction on Illinois’ massive Hillside Bottleneck improvement project begins tomorrow, weather permitting, according the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

This two-year, $97.5 million project is part of Gov. George H. Ryan’s Illinois FIRST program and is designed to reduce congestion along the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) from the East-West Tollway (I-88) through the Mannheim Road interchange.

The additional funding made possible by Illinois FIRST enabled this project to be studied, designed, and built within an unprecedented three-year period. The entire project is to be completed by December 31.

Starting March 15, construction activities will begin to directly affect traffic on the Eisenhower Expressway. The major focus of work will be the construction of two additional eastbound lanes to allow motorists from both I-290 and I-88 to exit directly at Mannheim Road without the need to merge into mainline traffic.

Other work to occur this year includes the replacement and widening of the Westchester Boulevard Bridge over I-290. This bridge will close on March 15 and not re-open until late fall. A detour is posted to guide motorists around the closure. Also, the project to lengthen the Illinois Central Railroad Bridge over I-88 that began in 2000 is scheduled for completion at the end of May.

During the first year of construction (2000), IDOT reconstructed and widened both Mannheim and Roosevelt Roads, reconstructed the I-290/Mannheim Road interchange, improved both North and South Frontage Roads, and lengthened the Darmstadt Road Bridge over I-88.