Eye on the Ike

IDOT has narrowed its options to four. Each would widen I-290 through Oak Park from six to eight lanes and move the exit and entrance ramps to the right side of the expressway at Harlem Avenue and Austin Boulevard.

The elevated ramps would be well above grade along much of Flournoy, Harrison and Garfield streets.

Other features under consideration include high-occupancy vehicle lanes for vehicles carrying more than one passenger and toll lanes.

The original construction of I-290 through Oak Park made a lasting imprint on the community, both good and bad. What happens now, with the most significant reconstruction of this stretch of the Ike since it was built, will also have a similar long-term impact on our community - even if not as dramatic as the original construction.

With IDOT focused on features solely related to highway traffic flow, the Village must take on the role of encouraging a new design that restores and enhances the quality of the Ike by addressing deficiencies from the original construction. These include improved aesthetics and how pedestrians and bicyclists can move through the Village, whether coming from the north or south of the expressway.

The Village has an opportunity to seek infrastructure improvements that enhance public safety and encourage walking and biking to CTA stations.

Other benefits might include rebuilding the interchanges at Austin Boulevard and Harlem Avenue, as well as the other bridges across I-290. Wider sidewalks or even bridge decking could create opportunities for new amenities such as bicycle racks, landscaping and commercial activity by CTA Blue Line stations.

This approach also would help restore a measure of reconnection between neighborhoods divided by the original construction of I-290 and offer the potential to enhance the South Town business district.

While the prospect of a CTA Blue Line westward extension is no longer under consideration in the near-term, it is the Village of Oak Park’s understanding that IDOT and the CTA are collaborating to modernize the commuter line with new stations, upgraded station areas and complete reconstruction of the rail infrastructure.

Completing the CTA Blue Line work at the same time that I-290 undergoes reconstruction is important to minimizing disruption to the community and commuters. The associated modernization also must result in significantly improved station access, appearance and comfort for all users.

Stay informed and ask questions...

• Check this webpage for updates
• Sign up for  Village enews, watch our facebook page and follow us on twitter
• Tell us what do you think. Email questions or concerns to village@oak-park.us
• Visit the IDOT Eisenhower project website 
• Visit the CTA project website

Specific issues related to the I-290 reconstruction project have been subjects of Village Board special meetings. Public comments have been gathered prior to the meetings via the following web pages:

• Sidewalks & Street Widths
• Traffic & Pedestrian Movement
• Air Quality & Noise - Harlem Interchange
• Air Quality & Noise - Austin Interchange
• Noise Walls & Blue Line Vision
• Noise Walls & Aesthetic Treatments

While commenting has closed on these topics, posted remarks have been retained. Residents also may email village@oak-park.us.

1-290 expansion plans await funding

June 3, 2019 - The reconstruction of I-290 expressway through Oak Park remains on hold until funding becomes available. Cost estimates are now at approximately $3.2 billion.

Should funding become available, officials say work on the final design likely would not start any no sooner than two years following the funding authorization due to the processes followed by the state for selecting consulting firms for a project of this size. Actual construction, which would include replacing several bridges over the expressway, likely would not start any sooner than five years after funding is secured.

However, the Village of Oak Park has received federal funds to complete a feasibility study for expanding the bridge decking over the expressway and aesthetic treatments on various bridges. Work on the feasibility study could start this fall following contract approval from the state.

The Village also received federal funding to start the preliminary design work for replacing the Home Avenue pedestrian bridge.  Consulting firms to prepare the preliminary engineering design work likely wll be selected this year, with the actual design work beginning in early 2020 following the required contract approval by IDOT.

For more information on local aspects of the project, email publicworks@oak-park.us. IDOT also manages a dedicated project website where the latest information about the overall project is posted - just visit eisenhowerexpressway.com.

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I-290 expansion plans advance

July 28, 2017 - The Illinois Department of Transportation reported this week that it had received federal approval for the first phase of the I-290 Eisenhower Expressway reconstruction project. The first phase included initial planning and design. Future phases will include final engineering and then construction. IDOT is proposing to create a toll lane on the Ike between Mannheim Road and Racine Avenue. The lane would be added from Mannheim to Austin Boulevard, which would make the expressway four lanes in each direction between Interstate 88 and Interstate 90/94. The project also includes additional transit options, expanded linkages between Pace and the Chicago Transit Authority, as well as pedestrian and bicyclist enhancements. Funds have not yet been committed for the next phases. IDOT estimates the project will cost about $2.7 billion.