Arlington Hts. Road work nearing end

End of the road(work).

Arlington Hts. Road interchange opens, but work continues

The long-awaited interchange at the Northwest Tollway and Arlington Heights Road opened on schedule Friday, providing motorists a welcome respite from bottlenecks.

But as the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority finished its two-year, $17.1 million project, work still remains on road construction at Arlington Heights Road near Central Road.

Arlington Heights Village President Arlene Mulder said the newest estimate is the project near Central Road will finish by Thanksgiving and possibly as early as this Sunday if weather permits.

There were no politicians talking or bands playing, just a car or two honking Friday afternoon as the new interchange at the Northwest Tollway and Arlington Heights Road opened.

But as the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority finished its two-year, $17.1 million project, Arlington Heights Road near Central Road remained a maze of detours for drivers.

Arlington Heights Village President Arlene Mulder said the newest estimate is the project near Central Road will finish by Thanksgiving and possibly as early as this Sunday if weather permits.

"We're in the two-minute drill to try to get everything open," said Scott Soderstrom, the Illinois Department of Transportation's resident engineer on the project. Work on the Arlington Heights Road project has been slowed by this week's snow and freezing temperatures, Soderstrom said. "You can't pave over snow," he said.

Crews used machines Friday to heat and dry off the pavement so more asphalt could be put down, IDOT spokeswoman Martha Schiebel said.

The rest of the Arlington Heights Road project between Higgins Road and Cypress Street is done except for some final sidewalk and landscape work, Soderstrom said.

The project originally was due to finish Oct. 31. The delays with the project made Arlington Heights officials decide not to hold any ceremonies when it is done.

"They knew the deadline and they knew the weather is unpredictable around here," Mulder said. "The financial loss for the businesses is extremely difficult."

The toll authority met its Nov. 22 deadline to finish making the interchange at Arlington Heights Road open in all directions.

Drivers will need to pay a 25-cent toll to get on the Northwest Tollway heading west from Arlington Heights Road. They also will need to pay the quarter toll getting off on Arlington Heights Road from the eastbound tollway.