New Interstate 57/Tri-State Tollway Ramps Open for Traffic

For decades, travelers on Interstate 57 and Interstate 294 crossed each other but never the twain did meet. In the national interstate system, that’s unheard of. As of Saturday, that anomaly was remedied as the the first ramps linking the two were opened to traffic.

Kristi Lafleur, executive director of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, called it “the interchange that time forgot” as she, the governor and two dozen local officials celebrated completion of the $380 million first phase of the project. Two more ramps, expected by 2023, will cost another $380 million.

Local officials believe the intersection of these two well-traveled interstates will open up more economic development opportunities in the Chicago Southland, allowing trucks to move more quickly through the region.

“Without proper infrastructure our economy cannot grow. This project will be a major boost for Chicago’s Southland, strengthen the business climate, create jobs and provide residents with safer, more efficient travel throughout the area,” said Gov. Pat Quinn.

The tollway authority provided a few figures to lend perspective to the occasion:

• drivers will save $4 million a year gasoline and diesel costs
• drivers will save 25 travel hours a year not having to use I-80 to get to I-294 from I-57
• 76,000 vehicles a day are expected to pass through the new ramps