The Illinois Tollway is rebuilding the I-290 Interchange at Illinois Route 390, a project estimated at $440 million dollars.
The I-290 Interchange Project will include 17 new ramps and 15 new bridges in the interchange area, which will provide free-flow travel in all directions. The new 390 tollway will also provide Western Access to O'Hare Airport as part of the $3.4 billion Elgin O'Hare Western Access Project.
Illinois Tollway's Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom told NBC 5 that when complete, the new 290 Interchange and Route 390 is expected to reduce travel time by 35 percent.
"We know we have a long way to go before we achieve our ultimate goal of full western access to O'Hare airport, but this is a substantial step," Schillerstrom said. /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
On Friday night, crews will work through the weekend to open the interchange's first three new ramps as part of the Elgin O'Hare Western Access Project. This will include a flyover ramp from wesbound I-290 to westbound Illinois Route 390 and a ramp from eastbound I-290 to westbound Illinois Route 390. A new ramp from westbound I-290 to eastbound Illinois Route 390 will also open in time for the morning commute on Monday, July 27.
Gov. Bruce Rauner said the $3.4 billion Elgin O'Hare Western Access Project will bring in needed congestion relief, reduced travel times, new access to O'Hare International Aiport, and much-needed opportunites for economic development.
The new ramps are currently under construction along what will be an all-electronic toll road.
Local
The project is considered a milestone of regional significance which will unlock the economic potential of the suburbs in the area, the Illinois Tollway said.
According to Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson, also a Tollway Board Member, the new ramps will significantly improve mobility, Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 benefitting local businesses, commuters and the area’s freight and manufacturing industries. /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
The new interchange is scheduled to be fully completed by 2017, however the tolls will be active for everyday commuters one year from now. The amount charged will be based on distance and will be just under $2 for the entire stretch of Illinois Route 390.
