Tollway Says It's Ready for Snowstorm, Offers Online Updates for Travelers

The Illinois Tollway’s fleet of 183 snowplows are ready for Friday’s expected snowstorm, according to Executive Director Kristi Lafleur.

"The Illinois Tollway is ready to put our snow removal plans into action as soon as the snow hits the pavement," said Lafleur.  "The safety of our customers is our top priority, and we are well prepared to respond to the snowfall expected throughout the day tomorrow."

The tollway’s Snow Operations Center will open early Friday morning, according to a press release. To help with snow removal as the severe weather continues into Saturday, all temporary lane closures are cancelled between 7 a.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday.

The tollway also has tips for motorists who must travel during the winter wollop:

• Clear snow and ice from all windows, mirrors and lights on your vehicle before you drive. Blowing snow can significantly diminish visibility.  Clearing all snow before you begin driving assures maximum vision of your surroundings and assists in reducing ice and snow buildup as you drive.
• Adjust speed to road conditions and traffic around you. Reducing speed during inclement weather conditions increases your ability to respond to the unexpected.
• Reduce speed on ramps and in cash lanes at toll plazas. Drivers paying cash at toll plazas or traveling on ramps should adjust their speed on approach during snow and ice storms. Watch for lane designations on approach to the toll plaza; switching lanes close to the toll plaza is unsafe, especially during winter weather.
• Increase the interval between your vehicle and the one in front of you.  By creating more distance between your vehicle and others, you decrease your chances of a collision because stopping distances increase as pavement conditions deteriorate.
• Avoid unnecessary lane changes. During heavy snowstorms, slush and packed snow build up in the area between traffic lanes. Abrupt or frequent lane changes may cause your vehicle to slide on the buildup and spin out of control.
• Keep away from snowplows.  Should you encounter snowplows, the safest choice is to keep back and let them do their job. They travel at a speed of approximately 30 mph, so traffic delays should be expected. During periods of extremely heavy snow, Illinois Tollway snowplows will work in tandem to remove as much ice, slush and snow as possible from all lanes at once.
• Do not use the shoulder of the road to pass a snowplow. Some snowplows are equipped with wing plows that extend to the left or right of the vehicle.  While these wings allow for more efficient removal of snow, they are nearly invisible to passing motorists due to blowing snow. De-icing materials spread from the rear of the truck may also be a distraction to motorists attempting to pass.
• Call *999 for roadway assistance. Should you encounter car trouble and require roadway assistance, try to move your car to a safe position on the shoulder or in an untraveled area. Report stranded vehicles by dialing *999 from a cellular phone.
• Stay in your vehicle, H.E.L.P. is on the way. During continued periods of extremely cold weather, the Illinois Tollway operates a "Zero Patrol" to supplement the Illinois State Police District 15 and the Tollway's Highway Emergency Lane Patrol (H.E.L.P.) vehicles. These patrols enable us to cover the entire 286-mile Tollway system 24 hours per day when temperatures and wind chills are at or below zero. Stay in your vehicle — it's the safest place to be if you are stranded.

"We want to make sure that our roads are clear so that customers arrive at their destinations safely," said Lafleur. "Drivers can do their part by being patient, keeping a safe distance from other vehicles and reducing their speed."

In addition to Patch’s live traffic map and IDOT’s “Getting Around Illinois” site, which shows real-time road conditions, travelers have another way of keeping up with what’s happening on the roads. The tollway’s Traffic and Incident Management System (TIMS) offers real-time travel times and road conditions via www.illinois tollway.com and on electronic message signs along the tollway. Tollway drivers can also call 1-800-TOLL-FYI (1-800-865-5394 to hear recorded information that is updated every two hours or as conditions require during snowstorms.