Illinois Department of Transportation

03/20/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/20/2026 14:45

Litter removal operations taking place Saturday

CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that litter removal operations will be taking place along the expressway system and major roads in Cook and the collar counties, weather permitting, from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, March 21.

Although lane closures will not be required, equipment and workers may be present on the shoulders. The public is asked to remain alert, slow down, move over and give them space to work - it's the law.

As part of an expanded effort to keep roadsides, interchanges, ramps and shoulders clean of trash and debris, additional cleanup efforts and shoulder sweeping operations will be taking place along the expressway system on a rotating basis across the region as weather permits and announced in advance.

While IDOT is committed to maintaining a positive impression of the state by keeping roadsides clean, the public can play a part as well. Remember: Put a Lid on Litter! Litter is more than just an eyesore - it has real, negative impacts on the environment and communities, while unnecessarily costing taxpayers millions of dollars a year.

To view a short video on the impacts of litter in Illinois, click here or visit IDOT's YouTube channel. ​

For more information on IDOT projects, click here. Find traffic and road conditions at www.gettingaroundillinois.com. You also can follow IDOT on Facebook and X.

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Illinois Department of Transportation published this content on March 20, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 20, 2026 at 20:45 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]