All signs point to acceptable road conditions for\u00a0Chicagoans who plan to travel over the Thanksgiving weekend. Though some roadblocks are inevitable \u2014 work on the Jane Byrne Interchange will continue, for example \u2014 other lane closures \u201cwill be lifted wherever possible,\u201d said Gianna Urgo, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Transportation.<\/p>\n
For instance, Illinois Tollway officials announced last week that more lanes were being opened on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway as work wraps up on the $2.5 billion project to rebuild and widen that highway.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the National Weather Service forecast for the rest of the week has just a little rain in it, and Thanksgiving itself is expected to be partly sunny. High temperatures will be in the 40s through Sunday.<\/p>\n
Still, Priscilla Tobias, director of IDOT\u2019s office of program development, is urging commuters to remain cautious.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe holiday season is the busiest travel season,\u201d Tobias said, \u201cyou\u2019re also at a higher risk for being in a crash.\u201d<\/p>\n
There have been 974 traffic fatalities in Illinois this year through November 20, up roughly 10 percent from 2015\u2019s 868. IDOT surveys also show that seat belt use by Illinois drivers in 2016 has decreased slightly, from 95.2 percent last year to 93 percent this year. That\u00a0has Tobias worried.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe major contributing factor in vehicular fatalities is lack of seatbelt usage,\u201d Tobias said. \u201cWe have people getting ejected [from their cars] in crashes that could have been preventable.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Chicago Police Department announced they would have hundreds of extra officers on patrol, and would seatbelt and DUI checkpoints in place through Sunday. That day-and-night effort is an attempt to prevent Illinois\u2019 traffic fatality numbers from reaching their highest in seven years.<\/p>\n
State Police Capt. David Byrd says the increased enforcement will not slow down travelers who are obeying the law.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll have mobile patrols, some traffic stops,\u201d Byrd said. \u201cIt shouldn\u2019t slow anybody down too much.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
All signs point to acceptable road conditions for\u00a0Chicagoans who plan to travel over the Thanksgiving weekend. Though some roadblocks are inevitable \u2014 work on the Jane Byrne Interchange will continue, for example \u2014 other lane closures \u201cwill be lifted wherever possible,\u201d said Gianna Urgo, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Transportation. For instance, Illinois Tollway … Continue reading Weather, roadwork add up to good forecast for holiday commuters<\/span>