The Illinois Department of Transportation and Chicago Department of Transportation have launched their version of a spring welcome with the announcement of four major road construction projects expected to cause traffic delays.
Summer road construction also brings the risk of Chicago auto accidents and Chicago work injury accidents in construction zones.
As we reported this week on Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, April 6 to April 10 was National Work Zone Awareness Week. In 2008, fatal Illinois road construction accidents claimed 31 lives and injured 1,985. Almost 8,000 traffic accidents were reported in Illinois construction zones.
This year’s major summer construction projects include:
-Resurfacing 27 miles of I-290 from Thorndale to the Circle Interchange (90-94) and from Interstate 355 from Army Trail Road to I-290, located within Cook and DuPage counties.
-Repair to 37 bridge structures and Congress Street Bridge.
-Rebuilding the upper and lower levels of north-south Wacker Drive from Randolph Street to Congress Parkway.
-Congress Parkway Streetscape.
“We realize they will have an impact on tens of thousands of motorists and pedestrians, and we pledge to do everything we can to keep that impact as small as possible,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. “We ask the public to work with us; use mass transit when possible, and when driving through the work zones, please be alert for workers.”
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, the Chicago car accident attorneys and the personal injury and wrongful death lawyers at Abels & Annes offer free and confidential appointments to discuss your rights. Call (866) 99-ABELS. There is no fee unless you win.