Drivers on I-294 near Downers Grove now have six lanes in both directions between I-55 and Ogden Avenue after the Illinois Tollway opened new lanes during the week of Oct. 19.

The lane opening is part of the agency's ongoing reconstruction of the Central Tri-State Tollway and is timed to handle heavier winter traffic, according to an Illinois Tollway news release issued Thursday, Oct. 22.

More changes are coming later in October. The Tollway plans to shift traffic into a winter configuration on I-294 between Ogden Avenue and the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88). That shift will give northbound drivers five lanes between Ogden Avenue and Cermak Road. Southbound drivers will have five lanes between I-88 and Ogden Avenue, and a second lane will reopen on the ramp connecting eastbound I-88 to southbound I-294.

The stretch of I-294 between I-55 and Ogden Avenue runs along the western edge of Downers Grove and is a key corridor for commuters in Downers Grove, Woodridge and Westmont heading to and from I-55 or I-88.

Construction signs and electronic message boards will alert drivers to overnight lane closures and traffic shifts as the work progresses. A 45 mph work zone speed limit remains in effect around the clock on I-294 throughout the construction area.

The lane opening is a milestone, not the finish line. Mainline roadway work on I-294 between I-88 and I-55 is scheduled to continue through 2027, according to the Tollway. The agency is rebuilding the roadway to eventually provide up to six lanes in both directions and constructing wider inside shoulders to integrate what it calls Flex Lanes.

The broader Central Tri-State Tollway project carries a $4 billion price tag and spans from Balmoral Avenue to 95th Street, according to the Tollway. More than 220,000 vehicles travel the corridor daily. Shaw Local's Suburban Life also reported on the lane opening. The work is part of the Tollway's Move Illinois capital program.

Construction is being coordinated with the Illinois Department of Transportation, Cook County and several nearby municipalities, according to the Tollway.

Up-to-date closure information is available on the Illinois Tollway's website at illinoistollway.com.