[JujuFox]

Here is the article detailing all of the work they did.

This new exit ramp off of I-294 will be I-PASS only I believe(site says "...two I-PASS Only toll collection lanes"). Balmoral Ave is an east/west street that goes straight to River Rd, and is just south of the convention center. I've used Balmoral in the past to get on to I-294 South, but this exit ramp is totally new, and just was opened today!

Check it out on google maps!

[KnitChick]

The exit was opened this past Tuesday, and yes, it is I-Pass only. If you do not have an I-Pass you still need to exit at River Road. It's not a huge distance savings, only about a mile really (it's about .5 mile from the new ramp to the River Road one & another .5 mile from the River Road exit to Balmoral), but it does avoid some of the downtown Rosemont traffic.

Note that it is an $0.80 toll at this ramp, River Road is still $0.40 with I-Pass (or $0.80 cash), though that will likely go up to $0.80 in January. But it is nice. Especially for me - I take River to Lawrence (around where Denny's is) and head down Lawrence toward home, every single day. I took this ramp three days this week & it saved me a ton of time & hassle (at the expensive of twice the tolls).

If you do take this ramp, you'll need to turn right onto Balmoral, then at River Road take a left. The convention center and Hyatt will be on the right, Embassy, Doubletree & Hilton on the left.

The reasoning behind building this ramp is the new entertainment center they're building over by the Muvico. There will be seven businesses opening in Feb or March (so they'll be open by Acen) and another open in the summer. A bowling alley & several restaurants. Not sure yet if any will be reasonably priced but I'm hoping they will be - that'll make life easier for us con-goers!

[GITS SAC Motoko]

Hey I'll take what I can to clear up ANYTHING on 294. It gets so crowded >.<.

[Shiggitay]

Awesome! My friend and I are going to be driving in from Grand Rapids, MI and this'll help us if we end up taking i294. I'll show this thread to her so we can figure it out.

EDIT: It seems we won't be going on i294 after all. i196 - i94 seems to be our projected route since we'll be leaving from Grand Rapids Airport (where I'll be flying into from Boston).

Where does i294 go to and from? I've never been to the Midwest, thus the question.

This post has been edited by Shiggitay: 09 February 2012 - 10:18 AM

[Sapphy]

This is a good heads up. Thanks!

I have to wonder, though. It doesn't seem fair to have it be IPASS-only. What about people coming in from out of state? Do they get a ticket issued to them if they end up taking that exit without realizing? That'd be silly.

[obakasan]

Not only is it I-Pass (EZ-Pass) only, it seems it is only for Northbound traffic. I still have to take the curlyque route (O'Hare exit) when coming from the North (Southbound). No help for me at all.

[Shiggitay]

Sapphy, on 09 February 2012 - 10:18 AM, said:

This is a good heads up. Thanks!

I have to wonder, though. It doesn't seem fair to have it be IPASS-only. What about people coming in from out of state? Do they get a ticket issued to them if they end up taking that exit without realizing? That'd be silly.

Yeah that does sound unfair indeed. Is IPASS similar to EZPass? Out here in New England area we have that.

EDIT: Obakasan up there beat me to it. lol

This post has been edited by Shiggitay: 09 February 2012 - 10:23 AM

[JujuFox]

Sapphy, on 09 February 2012 - 10:18 AM, said:

This is a good heads up. Thanks!

I have to wonder, though. It doesn't seem fair to have it be IPASS-only. What about people coming in from out of state? Do they get a ticket issued to them if they end up taking that exit without realizing? That'd be silly.

Apparently it is a very short ramp and a small exit, so this may be the reason they only want locals to use this exit, and for everyone else to use the Rive Rd exit. I'm guessing this also helps alleviate traffic on that exit too for locals.

This street used to only have an entrance ramp for 294 South, so I would take it every time I left ACen. It is much more convenient for me now that I can get off of 294 N on this street too!

[obakasan]

I-Pass and EZ-Pass are essentially the same. Can be used in something like 14 states. Check your appropriate website for details.

[Purplegodess]

Sapphy, on 09 February 2012 - 10:18 AM, said:

This is a good heads up. Thanks!

I have to wonder, though. It doesn't seem fair to have it be IPASS-only. What about people coming in from out of state? Do they get a ticket issued to them if they end up taking that exit without realizing? That'd be silly.

If you miss a toll in IL you can pay online, there's like a weeks leeway i think before they send you a fine for skipping a toll. You do have to know which tolls you missed to pay it online though.

[Shiggitay]

obakasan, on 09 February 2012 - 12:56 PM, said:

I-Pass and EZ-Pass are essentially the same. Can be used in something like 14 states. Check your appropriate website for details.

lol I saw your response after I asked what it was, but okay cool.