Illinois Tollway 2022 construction grabbing headlines
Sprawling construction along the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and on the new I-490 Tollway is drawing the attention of drivers and media outlets.
It’s hard to miss—towering cranes and massive backhoes are common sights for drivers as the Illinois Tollway invests nearly $1.5 billion in 2022 to improve and expand its system, with much of that work occurring along I-294, where the agency is widening and reconstructing 22 miles of roadway between Rosemont and Oak Lawn.
More work is underway to continue constructing I-490, a new Tollway that will skirt O’Hare Airport and, when completed, provide new access to the airport while also creating new links to existing highways.
Construction during what Interim Executive Director Lanyea Griffin has dubbed the Tollway’s “busiest year” was highlighted by The Daily Herald in its annual overview of Chicago area road work that driver can expect to see.
The Herald story noted that “the rising star on the Tollway’s roster is I-490, a road on O’Hare International Airport’s western flank that will connect with the Jane Addams (I-9) and Tri-State (I-294) tollways to the north and south, and to Route 390 in the center.”
Read the Herald story here.
In its story, the Chicago Tribune also focused on the large-scale, multi-year projects the Tollway is undertaking to relieve congestion and create greater access to local communities and to O’Hare Airport.
“Work will continue this spring and summer on ongoing highway projects like the Tri-State Tollway construction and widening, (and) creation of a new tollway near O'Hare International Airport,” the Tribune story noted.
The Chicago Tribune story is available here.
The Journal & Topics Newspapers focused on the construction and economic impact of the new I-490 Tollway in a story featured prominently in its annual Progress edition, a special 56-page supplement describing infrastructure projects occurring across the Northwest suburbs.
The story noted that while I-490 will provide new access to O’Hare Airport, there also will be related improvements made to nearby local roads like Touhy Avenue that will assist suburbs and businesses located near O’Hare.
“Local municipal officials see a greater benefit to easing traffic congestion in the Northwest suburbs that the new roads, and associated ramp and feeder projects, are expected to bring,” the story said.
The Journal & Topics story is available here.