Central Tri-State (I‑294) interchange reconstruction nears completion of major elements, Tollway says

Jeff Allen, deputy chief of program implementation for the Illinois Tollway's engineering department, updated the board and committee on Oct. 22 about the Central Tri-State Corridor reconstruction and the I‑294/I‑290/I‑88 interchange work.

Allen said the overall Central Tri-State Corridor is about 87% complete, with roughly 10 miles still under significant construction. The interchange project is valued at roughly $700 million, carries more than 300,000 vehicles per day (about 18% truck traffic), and sits at the heart of a regional freight network. He described key components under way: removal and reconstruction of a tri-level bridge carrying 294 over I‑88, construction of new dedicated ramp movements to eliminate low-speed loop ramps, pavement reconstruction, and stormwater detention work that also provides buffers to nearby residents.

Allen said five construction contracts were packaged to minimize traffic impacts and to maintain four lanes of traffic in each direction during construction; four of those five contracts are complete. He noted coordination with the Illinois Department of Transportation, Union Pacific and local jurisdictions, and said the Tollway has committed 23% (about $148 million) to DBE firms and nearly $5 million to veteran-owned firms on the project. Allen showed drone footage taken Oct. 13 illustrating new pavements, bridge work over the Canadian National Railroad, beam sets for new fly-under ramps and other progress, and said the Tollway anticipates opening several improved ramp movements by the end of the year.

Board members acknowledged the project's complexity and benefits for congestion relief and freight movement. The committee approved placement of related engineering items for board consideration.