Tag Archives: Chicago traffic accident

IDOT Announces Delay In Kennedy Express Lane Opening

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I wrote earlier this fall that the Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”) was expected to complete the construction on the I-90/94 (“Kennedy”) express lane construction by the “late fall.” Unfortunately they did not meet their own deadline as they announced this week that the express lanes would not open back up until mid-January 2025.

IDOT blames the delay on “software issues.” In their press release they stated, “Due to the complexity of the overall Reversible Lane Access Control system, additional time is needed to ensure the safety components are fully integrated and their functions operating seamlessly.”

This means continued gridlock on the Kennedy, especially from O’Hare airport down to the loop. The entire Kennedy construction project is $150 million project is expected to be completed next year. Phase 3 of the project includes construction on the outbound lanes.

Although discouraging that the express lane project was delayed, I think this is the safest and most prudent way for IDOT to proceed. It could be incredibly dangerous if there are any glitches with the entrance and exits of the express lanes. Let’s hope they actually meet this deadline.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident or Chicago truck accident, then call the Chicago accident lawyers at the Bryant Law Group, LLC., for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or click here to go to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.  

Illinois Tollways Launch New Traffic Managment Technology

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The Illinois Tollway Highway Authority announced this week that they were activating SmartRoad technology on the northern section of the 22-mile Central Tri-State Tollway (1-294).

SmartRoad, which recieved funding from President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure legislation, will provid eal-time, lane-specific information on message boards detailing traffic incidents and lane closure notifications. It will aim to provide improved travel time information through upgraded traffic sensors, which will also be installed on ramps to monitor for potential backups. The technology will also provid inside lane and shoulder flex lanes, enabling the tollway to shift traffic around incidents and reduce backups. There will also be new high-definition roadway cameras and upgraded weather stations.

The technology will be placed placed every half mile between 95th Street and Balmoral Avenue on I-294. This will hopefully ease traffic in the area which will hopefully improve traffic congrestion on adjacent highways such as I-90/94. According to Illinois Tollways, more than 220,000 vehicles use the Central Tri-State Tollway daily.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident or Chicago truck accident, then call the Illinois personal injury lawyers at the Bryant Law Group, LLC for a free legal consultation or go directly to firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

Illinois State Police Launch Click It Or Ticket Program In Central Illinois Counties

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The Illinois State Police (“ISP”) announced there are launching Safety Traffic Enforcement Patrols (“STEP”) in Vermilion, Macon, and Champaign counties during the month of November. The ISP will increase daytime and nighttime patrols focused on enforcing impaired driving, occupant restraint, speeding, and distracted driving, with the ultimate goal of lowering traffic fatalities.

According to the ISP, alcohol and drug impairment are a factor in 47% of all Illinois traffic fatalities. Also,  nearly 50% of vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes were not wearing a seat belt. This extra patrols are being funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Halloween and the holidays are right around the corner, so I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to order an Uber or have a designated driver if you are out and about and have been drinking. Also, please always buckle up.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident or Chicago truck accident, then call the Chicago injury attorneys at the Bryant Law Group at 312-614-1076 or go to the website by clicking www.blgchicago.com.

Multiple Closures Will Tie Up Traffic In Chicago This Week

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According to multiple news outlets like ABC 7 and Blockclub, there will be multiple lane closures around Chicago this week.

The resurfacing of Dusable Lakeshore Drive continues this week as all but 2 southbound lanes will be closed from Irving Park Road and the LaSalle Street exit on Monday and Tuesday between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. Also, the shouthbound lanes will be limited to 3 between Hollywood Boulevard and Lawrence.

On top of this, the northbound Kennedy exit at Ohio Street will be closed all week.

These are 2 major closures that will disrupt commute times. This may be good week to take the CTA (bus or train) or the Metra, if you are someone to prefers to drive to work. This could definitely limit your commute time and be less of a headache getting too or from work.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in Chicago traffic accident or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury lawyers at The Bryant Law Group for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go directly to our website at www.blgchicago.com.

Illinois Announces New Driver Safety Program

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Illinois Secretary of State, Alexi Giannoulias, announced this week that his office is launching a driver safety program focused on young drivers and distracted driving. This new program is part of National Teen Driver Safety Week.

The program, call “One Road, One Focus” will call for safety zones in areas where lots of crashes have happened. It will also ask lawmakers to fund new grants for local departments to start their own enforcement programs and remind prosecutors to get accused distracted drivers’ license suspended in the event of serious injury or death. Also included is a mandatory video teens will have to watch before they get a learner’s permit, which will start in 2025.

Giannoulias had this to say about the safety iniciateve: “No text or email is ever that important and certainly not as important as a child’s life. There is nothing that is more important than paying attention to the road.”

I applaud this new program as I believe many new drivers don’t understand, or at least forget, how dangerous it is to pick up your phone while driving. It only takes a second or two of looking away from the road before a car crash can occur.

If you have been injured in a Chicago traffic accident or a Chicago truck accident, the call the Chicago personal injury lawyers at the Bryant Law Group for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or click on the firm’s website a www.blgchicago.com to learn more.

IDOT Announces Completion Date For Kennedy Expressway Construction

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According to NBC Chicago, the Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”) will complete phase 2 of the Kennedy Expressway construction by late fall of this year. They did not provide an exact date.

Phase 2 of the Kennedy construction has included updating all of the Reversible Lane Access Controls (“REVLAC”) in the express lanes. IDOT provided the following statement on the construction so far: “The REVLAC system controls the gates and changes the direction of traffic in the reversible lanes. The work includes installing 120 gates, controls (local and remote), cameras, electrical components, fiber optic cables and terminal blocks along the 7.5 miles. Additionally, new overhead sign structures and signs were installed. While the pavement in the express lanes is drivable their use is extremely limited. The REVLAC work is ongoing, and the system currently is not functional.”

This is welcome new for those in the Chicagland area. Commutes from O’Hare airport in the city can take up to an hour depending on the time of day you are traveling. The Kennedy construction not only ties up the expressway but makes traffic throughout the northside of the city much worse and drivers look for alternate routes. Opening up the express lanes again will hopefully ease up traffic and shorten commute times. Hopefully the better technology and improvements made to the express lanes will make commutes on the Kenndey much safer. The completion of this project cannot come soon enough.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident or Chicago truck accident, then please contact the Chicago injury lawyers at The Bryant Law Group for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or click on the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

City of Danville, Illinois Given $9 Million Grant For Traffic Safety

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The bipartisan federal infrastructure bill that passed back in 2022 continues to pay off for the state of Illinois. CNHI News reported this week that the city of Danville and Vermillion County will recieve over $9 million from the federal department of transportation to help improve traffic safety in the area.

It was announced that the funds will be used to promote safety and improve the overall quality of life for residents in the community in and around Danville. Work will take place on Seminary Street and Bowman Avenue and will include the installation of bike lanes and sidewalks.

The grant will also fund efforts to improve lane departure safety in eight high-risk areas, including Catlin-Homer Road, Westville Road/Forest Glen Road, Perrysville Road, and Kickapoo Park Road. These targeted improvements aim to enhance roadway safety for all users.

It has been incredible to see the federal infrastructure money at work improving roads and bridges around the country. More importantly, the investments I have seen in streets and highways have all been aimed at improving traffic safety in all communities including urban and rural or large and small.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident or Illinois truck accident, please call the Illinois personal injury attorneys for a free legal consultation at The Bryant Law Group at 312-614-1076 or go to the firm’s website a www.blgchicago.com.

Street Closures For 2024 Chicago Marathon

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It’s that time of year where we see multiple street closures throughout the city of Chicago for the annual marathon, which takes place on Sunday October 13. Plan ahead so you do not get caught in traffic.

The main downtown closures include Jackson Drive, between Columbus and DuSable Lake Shore drives, starting 10 a.m. Wednesday. Jackson is expected to reopen Monday morning.

Sections of Columbus Drive will close beginning Thursday at Roosevelt Road, north to Ida B. Wells Drive. The closure will extend to Monroe Street on Friday morning and to Randolph Street on Saturday morning.

There are several dozen more street closures throught the north, west and south sides. You can see all of the closures by clicking here and so you can plan ahead if you live or plan on being in Chicago this weekend.

Good luck to all the runners this week and plan ahead if you need to navigate the city starting today through sunday.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident, then call the Illinois injury attorneys at The Bryant Law Group for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com to learn more.

Illinois Governor Signs Bill Allowing Digital Driver’s Licenses On Phones

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Last month Illinois Governor, JB Pritzker, signed a House Bill 4592 into law, which gives Illinois residents the option to have a mobile Illinois Identification Card or mobile driver’s license.

The digital version of the ID card would be issued in addition to the physical card, not instead. The law allows agencies and businesses to choose whether they want to accept digital IDs but bars anyone from requiring a digital ID over a physical card. 

Additionally, residents would still have to show their physical identification card to law enforcement, if the officer requests it. The law also gives officers immunity from any liability resulting in damage to a mobile device, except in the cases of willful and wanton misconduct, as well as barring law enforcement from searching an individual’s phone without consent if they are provided digital identification.

This bill will go into effect on January 1, 2025.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident or a Chicago truck accident, then call the Chicago personal injury attorneys at The Bryant Law Group, LLC. at 312-614-1076 for a free legal consultation or go directly to our website at www.blgchicago.com.

NHTSA Announces Recall Of Over 40,000 Harley Davidson Vehicles

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), announced last week that it was recalling 41,637 Harley Davidson motorcycles due to a potential for short-circuiting and increased motorcycle crash risk.

The recall includes the FLHX, FLHXSE, FLTRX, FLTRXSE, and FLTRXSTSE models. According NHTSA’s notice, a voltage regulator wire may rub on other components near the motorcycles’ engine, wearing down the outer casing and exposing the wire. This can lead to short circuits and a loss of power with little to no warning to the driver.

This auto defect could lead to a very dangerous scenario for a motorcycle rider. If you own any of the above models manufactured by Harley Davidson please contact your local Harley dealer to ensure that your bike is updated and repaired to remove that potential defect.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago motorcycle accident or a Chicago traffic accident, please call the Chicago injury lawyers at the Bryant Law Group for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go to our website at www.blgchicago.com.