Illiana Expressway

[rmsandw]

Last nights Kankakee Journal, brought more info to the Illiana Expressway, with the three routes being eyes.
http://daily-journal.com/archives/dj/display.php?id=443835

Focus narrows on Illiana Expressway
Aug. 13, 2009, 10:47 am   
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By Lee Provost
lprovost@daily-journal.com
815-937-3364
Three potential routes for the long-discussed Illiana Expressway have been selected by the Indiana Department of Transportation and the next task at hand is securing funds to determine which site should be moved on.

On the drawing board since the mid to late 1960s, the Illiana Expressway is a proposed highway that would connect Indiana's Interstate 65 to Interstate 57 somewhere in the Monee-Peotone region of Will County.

"This looks positive," said Jamy Lyne, Will County's planning and policy director. "The process appears to be really moving."

Estimated to cost more than $1 billion to construct, the eight-lane toll highway is targeted to carry up to 35,500 vehicles daily by the year 2030. The report also looks at constructing a four- or six-lane expressway at substantially less cost.

Government and transportation leaders have made it clear that if the desired route is not selected and then protected from commercial or residential development the opportunity to build this expressway will be soon lost.

At a January 2008 meeting, Will County Executive Larry Walsh said if the right of way is not protected, the road would be so far south of the Chicagoland region that it would be of little use.

[Chris]

Estimated to cost more than $1 billion to construct, the eight-lane toll highway is targeted to carry up to 35,500 vehicles daily by the year 2030. The report also looks at constructing a four- or six-lane expressway at substantially less cost.

Hmm, this seems like a waste. Why spend 1 billion on a road that would be barely used? 35,500 is nothing, can easily be done on a 4-lane freeway. Even double that could be handled on a 4-lane freeway.

I'd say, take the second option, build a 4-lane expressway, with space for 8 lanes, and use the rest of the money to improve the expressways, like I-57 or I-290 which are in dire need of a widening.

[Chris]

Visualization: Why not extend it westward to get some I-80 traffic?

[thenetwork]

My guess is that, since it seems to be Indiana that is pushing for this roadway, the I-57 to I-65 link will be the closest to a 50/50 split with Illinois, as far as road miles in each state.  Any farther west, and IL-DOT will have the majority stake in this project.

I think it would make more sense to loop it Northwest near I-55 and link it with the I-355 Tollway, then extend I-355's designation all the way to I-65.

[rawmustard]

I had thought that had been the plan, that the Illiana Expressway would tie in to I-355, and that the road would be designed to handle traffic from a proposed airport near Peotone. Of course, the airport proposal hasn't gained much traction.

[Chris]

Yeah, a connection to I-355 makes more sense.

However, I think it's even necessary to construct a third bypass of Chicago. The Naperville-Aurora-Elgin area is quite some distance west of the I-355 (which wasn't even there until recently). Sure, it might spur Chicago's growth, but I'd rather have a growth controlled by good infrastructure than uncontrolled growth with gridlocked suburbs.

[leifvanderwall]

In my opinion, the Illiana Tollway should be stretched from I-80 (Morris) to I-94 (Sawyer, Mi.) because  many people from Illinois love to travel to Michigan and also the truck traffic heading to Indiana & Toledo would be diverted off of I-80. I have been traveling I-80/I-94 from Joliet to Benton Harbor, Mi. since I was 4. Both of my grandparents used to live near Joliet and over the years the I-80/I-94 corridor has been construction ridden and is one of the most dangerous and busiest freeways in the US. The southern Chicagoland sprawl is exceeding past Laraway Road so eventually the Illiana Tollway will be needed and should be called I-680.

[rmsandw]

When I was on a tour of I-355 prior to the opening of the new extention, the ISTHA had just informed the contractor building the I-80 interchange that I-355 will not be extended south of I-80.  The interchage is designed for a southern extention.  But the plans and lane markings were changed in the final month to elminate any extention ideas.

[rmsandw]

Fridays Kankakee, Daily Journal had an another article about the expressway.  Will County, Illinois and the State of Indiana are toying the idea of creating a Port Authority to operate the highway now.  Also, allowing the highway to be tolled.  Plus Will County officals and U.S. Rep. Halvorson is pushing the USDOT for another 12-24 miles of extention, west to I-55.

[Revive 755]

why not extend it westward to get some I-80 traffic?

I've been told there are too many environmental constraints west of I-355.  I've always though it would be nice to tie the Prairie Parkway into the Illiana and get a nicer bypass around Chicago that isn't as far out as the I-43/I-39/I-55/I-74/I-465/I-69 loop.

[Alex]

Lawmakers to vote on Illiana Expressway funds soon

U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson, of Crete, says she is encouraged by Gov. Pat Quinn's recent statement of support for the proposed Illiana Expressway between Interstate 57 in Illinois and Interstate 65 in Indiana.

The words of state-level support came earlier this month as Halvorson slated a $5 million request in federal highway planning money to be voted on next year. Quinn has hedged on the project in the past due to concerns about costs.

"Gov. Quinn is thinking about throwing his support behind the Illiana, and I am calling on him to make it a priority," Halvorson told The Daily Journal on Friday. "It has been my priority for years. We need the jobs. We need relief of traffic congestion. We need the economic development."

The project would relieve congestion on Interstate 80, and U.S. Routes 30 and Illinois Route 1 by creating an alternative roadway for truck and other traffic between Illinois and Indiana. Halvorson called the project a high priority for Will County and Kankakee County.

The expressway as eyed thus far would connect Indiana's I-65 to Illinois' I-57, a stretch of 25 miles. A consulting firm has selected three potential routes for this expressway -- the west starting point options being near Monee, Peotone or Manteno.

[Brandon]

Visualization: Why not extend it westward to get some I-80 traffic?

West of I-55 would not be feasible due to the nuclear power plant at the confluence of the Des Plaines and Kankakee Rivers (Dresden).  However, the current proposal is for the Illiana to go west to I-55 and meet I-55 somewhere between Exits 241 and 245.  It would make a lot of sense as well.  There's a very large intermodal rail yard between I-55 and IL-53 there that would use it for access east toward I-57 and Indiana.  Another one is being built in the same vicinity.

[mgk920]

Doesn't the New Lenox, IL comp plan show a beltline freeway running on its south and west sides, to connect with I-80 at the southwest end of its 'S' curve at I-355?  Is that idea still active and if so, could THAT feed into the Illiana?

Mike

[Brandon]

Doesn't the New Lenox, IL comp plan show a beltline freeway running on its south and west sides, to connect with I-80 at the southwest end of its 'S' curve at I-355?  Is that idea still active and if so, could THAT feed into the Illiana?

Mike

Not that I recall.  The original idea was to have I-355 go southeast from its current terminus at I-80.  Unfortunately, there is a subdivision there.  A later idea was to have a new freeway/tollway start at I-80 about one mile east of the I-355 terminus (about milepost 141).  That idea also appears to have been nixed.

[Brandon]

It's back in the news again.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-illiana-highway-south-zone-1jan13,0,7850795.story

I can vouch that a lot of people in the county want this to be built.  Unlike our neighbors to the north in Lake County, Will County wants a competent road system in the county so we don't sit though the hell of two-lane roads everywhere.  Just like with I-355, the only people against it are the fringe nutjobs who opposed anything being built anywhere.  We honestly don't care if it (and the Prairie Parkway) are toll or free, we just want them.

[3467]

At a minimum corridor should be protected on the Illinana and Prairie parkway or they will end up like the Route 53 Extension and the 355 extension Both were authorized for the Illinois tollway to build but now it looks like both have too much development in the way.
These would really be the last possible roads except for 5 lane urban widenings in almost all of Metro Chicago. The only others I can think of are 3 small bypasses in McHenry and Beecher in Will...and I think the Elgn-Ohare

[mightyace]

An attempt to start it as a public-private partnership.  (at least in Indiana)

Local lawmakers push for Illiana Expressway revival

[3467]

If Quinn Becomses a lame duck next week Idont see much happening on the Illinois side or much at all in Illinois
We still havent sold the Capital Budget Bonds yet

[Brandon]

If Quinn Becomses a lame duck next week Idont see much happening on the Illinois side or much at all in Illinois
We still havent sold the Capital Budget Bonds yet

If that happens, watch for people in Will County to push for it becoming a tollway.  ISTHA's already expressed interest.

[3467]

I think that is the only hope for Illiana and Prariie Parkway and Elgin Ohare
Lake County Voters finally approved the 53 extension BUT ISTHA and IDOT pulled their EIS last year
Does anyone know its fate?
Because other than those routes Its only 5 lane urban projects in Metro Chicago and not a lot of those

[leifvanderwall]

I know this is not fictional roads, but can the Illiana Tollway be the new US 6?

[Brandon]

I think that is the only hope for Illiana and Prariie Parkway and Elgin Ohare
Lake County Voters finally approved the 53 extension BUT ISTHA and IDOT pulled their EIS last year
Does anyone know its fate?
Because other than those routes Its only 5 lane urban projects in Metro Chicago and not a lot of those

The problem with the IL-53 extension is the fools in Long Grove who balk at having a bypass of their little suburb.  No amount of talking with them seems to modify their opinions.

I know this is not fictional roads, but can the Illiana Tollway be the new US 6?

No, as US routes usually (see US-51 and US-412) not allowed on toll roads.  Anyway, US-30 would logically make more sense if they were allowed.  I personally see the number as being an I-x57 or I-x65.  Either one would be an odd 3di.

[mgk920]

I think that is the only hope for Illiana and Prariie Parkway and Elgin Ohare
Lake County Voters finally approved the 53 extension BUT ISTHA and IDOT pulled their EIS last year
Does anyone know its fate?
Because other than those routes Its only 5 lane urban projects in Metro Chicago and not a lot of those

The problem with the IL-53 extension is the fools in Long Grove who balk at having a bypass of their little suburb.  No amount of talking with them seems to modify their opinions.

What is the latest on IL 53, including article links, if you can find any?  I am aware that this proposal has *SOLID* support in the rest of Lake County outside of Long Grove.

Once the IL 53 extension is built, then we can focus on extending the west leg past McHenry and Richmond, IL to feed into US 12 at the Wisconsin state line.    As the City of McHenry has been growing in recent years, the northwest leg's dedicated and preserved ROW has become increasingly visible on the high-res air images of the area.  (Isn't McHenry County, IL the most populous in the USA without any direct access to a freeway/tollway of any kind?)

I know this is not fictional roads, but can the Illiana Tollway be the new US 6?

No, as US routes usually (see US-51 and US-412) not allowed on toll roads.  Anyway, US-30 would logically make more sense if they were allowed.  I personally see the number as being an I-x57 or I-x65.  Either one would be an odd 3di.

Howabout an even 'I-x80' number?





Mike

[Revive 755]

I think it's more likely the Illiana will be a state route, given possible similarities between it and VA 895.

[3467]

Knowing Illinois I suspect they try for an Interstate number-If not I agree state route-

I had also heard besides Long Grove that much of the land in ROW was fragmented and wetland so thye could no longer sqweeze a road in-like the 355 south extension. That is what all that is under study is a Richmond Bypass -I think just 2 lanes.
I know proposals for 6 lane widenings on US 41 went nowhere and several other state routes like IL 59 in North Cook and Lake also have no room.
I went through latest 5YPlan the only projects uncompleted and under study in Metro Chicao are
Elgin Ohare which will be a Tollway
US 30 Kane
Lake
US 45 incl Milburn Bypass
IL 83
IL131
IL 137
IL 173
Maybe Grayslake Bypass(instead of NW 53 extension)
McHenry
Richmond ByPass
IL 31 widenings
Kendall
IL 47
US 34 Sandwich
That is it I know county planners have requests but this is it for IDOT and if there are no capital bonds maybe nothing