The landscape of travel to and around O’Hare International Airport is set to change come 2027, thanks to the ongoing construction of the "I-490" tollway project. According to a report by ABC 7 Chicago, the new tollway will facilitate western access to the airport, hoping to alleviate traffic burdens for millions living on O’Hare’s west side.
In addition to improving travel times for commuters, the I-490 project is poised to stimulate economic growth in adjacent communities. "When I talked about western access eight years ago, people were laughing," 8th District Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi told ABC 7 Chicago. Now, those doubts have transformed into tangible progress as construction teams work to connect Interstate 90 in Des Plaines to Interstate 294 in Bensenville.
A part of this extensive development runs alongside the airport's western border, where effort is being made to construct a direct entrance from the roadway into the airport facility. This development is expected, not only to ease the commute for those west of O’Hare but to also bring about new well-paying jobs in the region.
Officials involved with the project are delighted with the milestones achieved thus far. "This is huge. There's nothing like this happening in the rest of the country," Chief Engineering Officer Manhar Nashif said in a statement obtained by ABC 7 Chicago. And in a similarly optimistic vein, Cassaundra Rouse, Executive Director of the Illinois Tollway emphasized the importance of the project by noting, "What we’re doing here is about more than just roads and bridges that are being constructed," during a recent gathering at the Illinois Tollway’s M-16 Maintenance Facility as reported by WGN-TV.
The I-490/I-390 Interchange Project, which is estimated to cost about $534 million, is funded by the Illinois Tollway and will include 16 ramps and 15 bridges. Each component, including the strategic relocation of the UP-railroad bridge over the Canadian Pacific/Kansas City Railyard, is integral to the expansion. As reported by WGN-TV, significant strides have been made toward completing this interchange, which promises enhanced connectivity to O’Hare as well as surrounding businesses and communities.
Engineers have also tackled unique challenges, such as keeping taxiways operational while adjusting the approach runway lighting. The coordinated effort to lift this lighting off the ground during construction signifies the meticulous planning and execution involved in a project of this magnitude.
