Good news for Chicago residents: the Jane Byrne Interchange Project has finally officially reopened.
Originally starting in 2013 with the name The Circle Interchange, the project was only supposed to take four years with a $535 million budget. Instead, it took nine years, and went almost 50% over budget at the price of $806 million, according to a financial update.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) says the delay and price increase are partially due to some unexpected problems at the construction site, including poor soil in the area and issues with the underground tunnels that forced it to change design plans mid-project. It also says other large-scale projects nearby, like I-55/LSD construction, slowed work in the highly traveled area.
Here’s a look at the final changes that took place overnight:
- 90/94 (Kennedy and Dan Ryan) now four lanes each way through the interchange.
- EB I-290 (Eisenhower) ramp to SB 90/94 (Dan Ryan) now two lanes.
- EB I-290 (Eisenhower) ramp to NB 90/94 (Kennedy) now two lanes.
- Adams and Jackson ramps to NB 90/94 (Kennedy) open.
Some of the big changes associated with the project that are already in place include the following:
- A new two-lane flyover ramp from NB 90/94 (Dan Ryan) to WB I-290 (Eisenhower)
- Nine newly constructed roads over I-90/94 and I-290: Monroe, Adams, Jackson, Harrison, Taylor, Van Buren, Halsted, Peoria & Morgan
- New underground water storage vault at 90/94 near Polk that’s the size of two Olympic size swimming pools to prevent flooding on the expressway
- Some left-hand entrance ramps were relocated to the right side on 90/94/The Kennedy.
IDOT says the new interchange is expected to help reduce traffic delays in the area by at least 50%, reduce idling which is estimated to save 1.6 million gallons of gas annually and is expected to drop the number of severe crashes by 25%.
The interchange that brings together three major expressways is used by more than 400,000 motorists a day.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzer said motorists will “no doubt” have an easier time.
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Source: WGNTV.com
