Illinois 53 Extension

[silverback1065]

Interesting. I really like hearing about road history and why roads ended up the way they did. I always thought it was weird how US 30 zig zags its way north in the burbs. This explains why. What was it's old alignment? Also, I don't get on this thread much, is this 53 project actually going to happen one day or is it a pipe dream? Is the US 12 freeway possible or completely dead? Is the 390 going to go any further west? again forgive the barrage of questions I know very little about the Chicago metro road projects.

Currently, ISTHA is building the I-490 O'Hare West Bypass (https://agency.illinoistollway.com/web/guest/projects) from I-294 near Grand Ave (Sat image: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9372391,-87.9151289,676m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTIxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) to I-90 where the Des Plaines Oasis (sat image: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.013508,-87.9291035,1085m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTIxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) was.

Planned Interchanges also at:
- IL 72 Higgins Rd
- IL 390 / Future O'Hare West Terminal
- IL 19 Irving Park Rd
- Franklin St / Green St

This is to be completed sometime in 2027.

The other project in the short term is the West extension of IL 390 to County Farm Rd / Barrington Rd. That was in a study in 2023.

hopefully they don't mess up the connection with 90, the proximity to elmhurst is a weaving disaster. just curious, people familiar with the area, is 490 likely to do anything to improve traffic? what is its purpose?

[Brandon]

Ages ago US30 (Lincoln Highway) used to be on Roosevelt Road and was renamed ALT 30 when Lincoln Highway was moved as a regional bypass south of Chicago. Today ALT 30 is IL38.

That was US-330.  US-30 has always gone via Joliet following the Lincoln Highway (which also never went through Chicago itself).

[Brandon]

Before the interstates, weren't there planes for a cross-country 'ticket' tollway to run from the then stub end of the Skyway (that was later extended to feed into the Dan Ryan Expressway as I-90) and on to at least the MSTP metro area via the US 12 corridor?

No.  It was to go west from the Borman/Kingery Expressway and bypass Chicago.  The Indiana Toll Road was originally meant to go west to meet the Tri-State Tollway.  Chicago convinced them to move the west end north to meet their plans for the Calumet (now Chicago) Skyway.  What is now the Borman from Burns Harbor west was originally meant to be the western Indiana Toll Road.

[Revive 755]

hopefully they don't mess up the connection with 90, the proximity to elmhurst is a weaving disaster. just curious, people familiar with the area, is 490 likely to do anything to improve traffic? what is its purpose?

I don't see it doing much overall for traffic - would love to be wrong.  It will be nice to get another SB entrance to the Tri-State between I-290 and the O'Hare area.

As for purpose, from https://apps1.dot.illinois.gov/eplan/desenv/environment/Elgin-Ohare%20Final%20EIS/Tier%20One/Tier%20One%20Record%20of%20Decision/Executed_ROD_100617.pdf (available with other documents at https://apps1.dot.illinois.gov/eplan/desenv/environment/Elgin-Ohare%20Final%20EIS/

• Improve regional and local travel by reducing congestion
• Improve travel efficiency
• Improve access to O'Hare Airport from the west
• Improve modal opportunities and connections

[Rick Powell]

• Improve regional and local travel by reducing congestion
• Improve travel efficiency
• Improve access to O'Hare Airport from the west
• Improve modal opportunities and connections

If the long-planned western access and terminal to O'Hare ever gets built, there's your roadway access to it.

[hobsini2]

Interesting. I really like hearing about road history and why roads ended up the way they did. I always thought it was weird how US 30 zig zags its way north in the burbs. This explains why. What was it's old alignment? Also, I don't get on this thread much, is this 53 project actually going to happen one day or is it a pipe dream? Is the US 12 freeway possible or completely dead? Is the 390 going to go any further west? again forgive the barrage of questions I know very little about the Chicago metro road projects.

Currently, ISTHA is building the I-490 O'Hare West Bypass (https://agency.illinoistollway.com/web/guest/projects) from I-294 near Grand Ave (Sat image: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9372391,-87.9151289,676m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTIxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) to I-90 where the Des Plaines Oasis (sat image: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.013508,-87.9291035,1085m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTIxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) was.

Planned Interchanges also at:
- IL 72 Higgins Rd
- IL 390 / Future O'Hare West Terminal
- IL 19 Irving Park Rd
- Franklin St / Green St

This is to be completed sometime in 2027.

The other project in the short term is the West extension of IL 390 to County Farm Rd / Barrington Rd. That was in a study in 2023.

hopefully they don't mess up the connection with 90, the proximity to elmhurst is a weaving disaster. just curious, people familiar with the area, is 490 likely to do anything to improve traffic? what is its purpose?

They have c/d lanes in place for I-490 and Elmhurst Rd.

[silverback1065]

Interesting. I really like hearing about road history and why roads ended up the way they did. I always thought it was weird how US 30 zig zags its way north in the burbs. This explains why. What was it's old alignment? Also, I don't get on this thread much, is this 53 project actually going to happen one day or is it a pipe dream? Is the US 12 freeway possible or completely dead? Is the 390 going to go any further west? again forgive the barrage of questions I know very little about the Chicago metro road projects.

Currently, ISTHA is building the I-490 O'Hare West Bypass (https://agency.illinoistollway.com/web/guest/projects) from I-294 near Grand Ave (Sat image: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9372391,-87.9151289,676m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTIxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) to I-90 where the Des Plaines Oasis (sat image: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.013508,-87.9291035,1085m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTIxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) was.

Planned Interchanges also at:
- IL 72 Higgins Rd
- IL 390 / Future O'Hare West Terminal
- IL 19 Irving Park Rd
- Franklin St / Green St

This is to be completed sometime in 2027.

The other project in the short term is the West extension of IL 390 to County Farm Rd / Barrington Rd. That was in a study in 2023.

hopefully they don't mess up the connection with 90, the proximity to elmhurst is a weaving disaster. just curious, people familiar with the area, is 490 likely to do anything to improve traffic? what is its purpose?

They have c/d lanes in place for I-490 and Elmhurst Rd.

good 

[edwaleni]

Of all the public hearings on the 53 extension has anyone suggested a "cut and fill" approach to the areas people are protesting the most about?

The neighbors will get their wetlands and open space back, they won't hear any traffic, and the road can be completed.

Take it under north of Lake Cook Road and bring it back up at Long Grove Road.

Yes, yes its expensive, but it seems this is the way many DOT's are beginning to deal with these gaps.

At this point the sprawl has already taken up all the land so one can't complain about that anymore, now its about making it practical.

[JoePCool14]

I'm still skeptical of them doing anything with that corridor anytime soon. Of course that's what should be done, but it probably won't be.

[Rick Powell]

Of all the public hearings on the 53 extension has anyone suggested a "cut and fill" approach to the areas people are protesting the most about?

I was peripherally involved in that project. I think the "4 lane 45 MPH parkway" was the preferred offset to environmental and community concerns, and a tunnel for part of the route was not given serious consideration. As it turns out, the concept didn't satisfy anyone...the opponents were still against any type of road there, and the proponents of the road were disappointed in what they saw as a crippled concept.

Interestingly enough, the rebuild of the I-290 corridor has at least 5 locations where a "mini-caps" of 200 to 600 feet in length are being looked at, at least from a conceptual stage. These are big enough to put a mini park or a few buildings on, but not long enough that they trigger expensive ventilation needs, etc.

[edwaleni]

Of all the public hearings on the 53 extension has anyone suggested a "cut and fill" approach to the areas people are protesting the most about?

I was peripherally involved in that project. I think the "4 lane 45 MPH parkway" was the preferred offset to environmental and community concerns, and a tunnel for part of the route was not given serious consideration. As it turns out, the concept didn't satisfy anyone...the opponents were still against any type of road there, and the proponents of the road were disappointed in what they saw as a crippled concept.

Interestingly enough, the rebuild of the I-290 corridor has at least 5 locations where a "mini-caps" of 200 to 600 feet in length are being looked at, at least from a conceptual stage. These are big enough to put a mini park or a few buildings on, but not long enough that they trigger expensive ventilation needs, etc.

Yes, I remember the 4 lane 45mph parkway proposal being floated around.

When the I-355 (IL-53 replacement) was being vetted in the mid 1980's, the biggest complaint was noise, especially between Ogden Avenue (US-34) and Boughton Road. ISTHA decided to sink the road and build sound walls on both sides to remediate the issue. Once they did that, the surrounding residents were satisfied (and still are).

The feared build out of sketchy gas stations and retail at every exit never came to pass, and if not for the signage, you wouldn't know a major arterial was coming up when driving a east-west road.

I guess this is what baffles me (no pun intended)is that ISTHA has a proven track record of remediation to the neighbors. One is dealing with a perception, not an actual concern.

[silverback1065]

4 lane parkways instead of freeways are such a dumb idea. if a freeway is needed build it, no half measures!

[JoePCool14]

4 lane parkways instead of freeways are such a dumb idea. if a freeway is needed build it, no half measures!

I agree, but this is Lake County, IL we're talking about here.

[mgk920]

4 lane parkways instead of freeways are such a dumb idea. if a freeway is needed build it, no half measures!

I agree, but this is Lake County, IL we're talking about here.

Right through the middle of the land of the well-lawyered NIMBYs

< sigh > . . .

Mike

[mrsman]

Ages ago US30 (Lincoln Highway) used to be on Roosevelt Road and was renamed ALT 30 when Lincoln Highway was moved as a regional bypass south of Chicago. Today ALT 30 is IL38.

That was US-330.  US-30 has always gone via Joliet following the Lincoln Highway (which also never went through Chicago itself).

Here's a great map from 1934

http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/10346.html

[mrsman]

4 lane parkways instead of freeways are such a dumb idea. if a freeway is needed build it, no half measures!

I agree, but this is Lake County, IL we're talking about here.

Right through the middle of the land of the well-lawyered NIMBYs

< sigh > . . .

Mike

Seems like a similar saga to the gap of I-710 in South Pasadena, CA.  The end result is no freeway and no chance of ever having a freeway.

[edwaleni]

4 lane parkways instead of freeways are such a dumb idea. if a freeway is needed build it, no half measures!

I agree, but this is Lake County, IL we're talking about here.

Right through the middle of the land of the well-lawyered NIMBYs

< sigh > . . .

Mike

Seems like a similar saga to the gap of I-710 in South Pasadena, CA.  The end result is no freeway and no chance of ever having a freeway.

CalTrans doesn't even own the ROW. They would have to tunnel from DelMar all the way to Valley Blvd. (5.5 miles as the tunnel is dug) Being California, take a project estimate and raise it by 400%.

For IL-53, they do own it.