Beginning Friday, reversible lanes will open on a stretch of the Chicago Skyway, a move aimed at cutting congestion at the toll plaza.
But the only way to take advantage of the so-called express lanes is if you have an E-ZPass or I-Pass.
Three center lanes near the toll plaza will operate under a schedule largely dictated by rush hour, said Avis LaVelle, spokeswoman for the Skyway Concession Co., which operates the Skyway under a long-term lease with the city of Chicago. The lanes will be open to traffic heading west to Chicago during the morning rush hour. By afternoon, the lanes will serve eastbound traffic. The lanes will remain open to eastbound traffic Friday afternoon to Sunday, but will then switch to handle the crush of westbound traffic, particularly in the busy summer travel months.
“This should be much faster for people who have electronic tolling,” LaVelle said.
Drivers with E-ZPass or I-Pass will move into the express lanes with a dedicated entrance and go through the center of the toll plaza where a McDonald’s once operated but was closed last year and demolished, LaVelle said.
Other drivers will be diverted to reconfigured right lanes in each direction to pay the toll with cash or credit cards, which can take longer.
There is a catch: The three reversible lanes will still be gated. So drivers could get stuck in line.
LaVelle said it should only take a second for the E-ZPass or I-Pass to register if mounted properly allowing the gate to open. If the pass is not read correctly or there’s not enough money on the pass, drivers can press the help button, she said.
The Chicago Skyway handles 46,000 vehicles a day, LaVelle said. The toll is $4.50 for a passenger car.
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