The Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) is one of the state’s most important transportation networks, serving as the western gate to the city of Chicago and a major link in the transportation network serving northeast Illinois. I-290 connects commuters to the high employment centers, and it continues to serve as a multimodal interstate corridor, allowing for essential access to the Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line.
But the Eisenhower is also one of the oldest and most congested stretches of highway in the United States. This critical transportation corridor cannot effectively serve any of its intended purposes in its current state, which is why the Eisenhower Expressway is a prime candidate for federal grants under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. These funds would repair, improve, expand and modernize the highway and surrounding transportation infrastructure, moving the Eisenhower into the 21st century.
