Illinois Tollway Budgets For Western Access To O’Hare

Illinois Toll Highway Authority’s $1.7 billion 2017 budget, passed December 15, provides $374.5 million for continued construction of the I490 tollway and Illinois 390 O’Hare access roadway flyover above the Canadian Pacific freight yards on the west side of the airport property – a project opposed by the railroad and the subject of ongoing litigation between CP and the Tollway. The Tollway filed the lawsuit because CP officials refused even to discuss a western access route that would include five ramps above CP’s rail right of way. Total cost of building the proposed toll beltway completely around O’Hare is predicted to be $3.4 billion, and is in support of the City of Chicago’s $13.3 billion O’Hare Modernization Program.