Inside the Tollway

The Illinois Tollway has kicked off the 2021 construction season as the 10th year of the Move Illinois capital program begins with some of the biggest and most challenging projects lying ahead.The Tollway’s 2021 capital program calls for investing an astounding $1.53 billion in the region’s infrastructure.  This includes more than $451 million to continue planning and advance construction for the new I-490 Tollway and new interchanges connecting to the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), Tri-State Tollway (I-294), the Illinois Route 390 Tollway, as well as providing direct access in and out of O’Hare International Airport as part of the Elgin O’Hare Western Access Project.Work to reconstruct and widen the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) will continue in 2021 with more than $690 million budgeted to continue design and construction of the roadway, as well as the new BNSF Railway Bridge, the new Mile Long Bridge and to begin work to reconfigure the I-290/I-88 Interchange at I-294.In addition, $78 million is allocated in 2021 for ongoing work to complete the final ramps for the I-294/I-57 Interchange. The 2021 capital program also provides $312.2 million for systemwide roadway and bridge repairs to keep the existing Tollway system in good repair.  Several local projects include replacing the Deerpath Road Bridge over the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) in Aurora, rebuilding the Stearns School Road Bridge over the Tri-State Tollway (I-94) in Gurnee, and building a new Windsor Road Bridge at I-88 and I-294 in coordination with roadway improvements by the Village of Oak Brook and. As construction continues to deliver these significant infrastructure improvements the Tollway’s goals and commitment to the communities and customers it serves continues to strengthen.