Why Does Tollway Want Western Springs Land?

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Western Springs agreed this week to sell a small plot to the Illinois Tollway for its Interstate 294 expansion project.

The land in question is at the end of the Oak Street cul-de-sac.

At a Village Board meeting Monday, the two neighbors closest to the one-tenth of an acre wanted to know what the state agency planned for the land. Village officials said they did not know.

On Friday, after this story appeared, the tollway responded to a Patch inquiry about the purpose.

"The Illinois Tollway is purchasing the small parcel of land along the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) near Oak Street to accommodate the improvements at the Ogden Avenue Interchange, including reconfiguration of the ramps and drainage improvements to support local community requests. Information about the project is available here on the Tollway’s website," spokeswoman Joelle McGinnis said in an email.

She said the tollway would be able to share more information about construction and landscaping plans on the land with neighbors.

"The Tollway is in regular contact with the Village of Western Springs as part of the planning, design and construction of this project and has been reaching out to residents in advance of work as part of improvements to the Ogden Avenue Interchange and the Tri-State Tollway (I-294)," McGinnis said.

The land is full of trees that serve as screening between the cul-de-sac and the expressway.

Resident Fernando Garcia said he was concerned about what would happen aesthetically. The fear is also that highway noise would become more bothersome if the state removed the trees. The village confirmed that nothing barred the state from doing so.

Brianna Knue, who lives across Oak Street from Garcia, expressed similar feelings. She said she contacted the tollway before she bought her house in 2021, but got no information on the agency's plans.

Village Trustee James Tyrrell said he knew what the neighbors were going through. He, too, lives at the end of a cul-de-sac next to the expressway.

"I would just hope that the citizens are provided the information from the tollway," he said. "I found the tollway to be fairly communicative when I went through the issue with them. I'm a little south of you two. It took a long time, but they did come and explain things pretty thoroughly."

Officials said they could put the neighbors in contact with the tollway.

The Village Board voted unanimously to sell the land for $10,000. That was based on an appraisal taking into account that the state would likely condemn the property, officials said.

Village President Alice Gallagher did not take part in the discussion, noting her role as a member of the tollway board.