Here We Go Again - Roadwork Ahead Expect Delays For A Year As I-90 Is Widened At Sprague Exit

More widening work on Interstate 90 at Sprague Avenue starts on Monday.

The $15.7 million construction project will result in a third westbound lane and new westbound on- and off-ramps at the Sprague interchange.

But for the next year, motorists headed in both directions will encounter lane restrictions and rush-hour delays.

Starting on Nov. 1, all I-90 traffic will move onto the four lanes that were recently built to carry eastbound freeway traffic through the Sprague curve. This will allow the state Department of Transportation to build an additional westbound lane between Sprague Avenue and the city limits.

Two lanes will remain open in each direction throughout the project, but some on- and off-ramps will close.

Eastbound I-90 between Havana and Sprague will become two lanes. The eastbound Sprague Avenue exit will remain open, but the exit lane will be used for through traffic.

Eliminating the eastbound Sprague Avenue exit lane will likely cause delays during rush hour, said DOT spokesman Al Gilson.

There might be some night work that will reduce westbound traffic to one lane. But during the day, two lanes should be open, Gilson said.

“It’ll be slow because it’s different to the drivers and not comfortable, but traffic still should be able to putt through there,” Gilson said.

“The big problem we have is people watching us instead of watching the road. That’s when we have accidents,” he said.

On Nov. 1, the DOT also will close the westbound Broadway on-ramp, the westbound Sprague off-ramp and the westbound Sprague on-ramp.

Drivers on Broadway and Sprague avenues who need to access westbound I-90 should use the Fancher Road on-ramp. Westbound I-90 drivers who need to access Sprague Avenue should use the Broadway off-ramp.

The eastbound Custer Street on-ramp, which has been closed since work started in 1998, will remain closed.

When I-90 construction is completed, there will be three through lanes in each direction from the city limits to Argonne Road.