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Kennedy Expressway Bridge Rehabilitation Project
In 2023, IDOT began rehabilitating the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90/94), from the Edens Expressway (I-94) junction to Ohio Street.
The estimated $169 million project consists of rehabilitating 36 bridges and the Reversible Lane Access Control system, replacing overhead sign structures, installing new signage and modernized LED lights, pavement patching, and structural painting.
The work has taken place over three consecutive construction seasons. The project is now into its final stage. Learn more in the Stage 3 fact sheet.
The Kennedy Expressway officially opened in November 1960, with the last major rehabilitation completed in 1994. The project improves safety, traffic flow and reliability for more than 275,000 motorists who use the expressway each day.
The outbound reversible express lanes will remain open, with two main outbound lanes closed at a time.
- The reversible mid-gate entrance and exit will be closed, with traffic in the express lanes unable to exit until the Edens Expressway at Foster Avenue.
- Drivers going to Interstate 90 (Kennedy Expressway) or O'Hare International Airport from downtown Chicago must stay on the mainline Kennedy and not the express lanes. This configuration is expected to remain in place until mid-July.
Ramp Closures
There will be 19 ramp closures during the 2025 phase of the project, with durations varying due to the staging and sequencing of the project and types of repairs needed at each location. Motorists will be notified at least one week in advance via posted signage, social media, IDOT website and press releases. Closures are weather dependent.
Upcoming Ramp Closures
June 5, 2025
- Outbound Kennedy to North Avenue, anticipated to reopen in approximately two weeks.
- Division Street to outbound Kennedy, anticipated to reopen in approximately two weeks (previously scheduled for June 11).
June 16, 2025
- Outbound Kennedy to Fullerton Avenue, anticipated to reopen in approximately two weeks.
Current Ramp Closures
- Outbound Kennedy to Ohio Street is closed, anticipated to reopen by the end of this week (previously scheduled to reopen the week of June 9).
- Armitage Avenue to outbound Kennedy is closed, anticipated to reopen by the end of this week (previously scheduled to reopen the week of June 9).
Motorists should follow the posted detours. Sequencing of ramp improvements is being done throughout the project to help accelerate construction. Additional ramp closures for varying durations will be required to complete the project. All ramp closures are weather dependent and are subject to change.
- 12/12/2024: Express Lanes to Reopen Week of Jan 13
- 09/03/2024: Kennedy Lane Closures
- 07/10/2024: Kennedy Weekend Lane Closures
- 06/28/2024: Kennedy Weekend Lane Closures
- 06/21/2024: Inbound Kennedy Weekend Closures
- 05/28/2024: Inbound Kennedy Weekend Closures
- 03/05/2024: Year Two of Kennedy Rehabilitation: Reversible Express Lanes
- 03/01/2024: Year Two of Kennedy Rehabilitation Begins
- 08/29/2023: Inbound Kennedy Stage Change
- 08/03/2023: Inbound Kennedy Ramp Closures
- 07/24/2023: Inbound Kennedy Stage Change
- 07/13/2023: Inbound Kennedy Stage Change
- 02/28/2023: Kennedy Rehab
Overview and Scope
The I-90/Kennedy Expressway feeds directly into O’Hare International Airport and is a core local expressway moving traffic in and around the city. Its bridge structures provide support to 275,000 vehicles per day, including personal vehicles and freight trucks.
These structures are more than 50 years old and were last repaired in 2012. Since then, the decks have begun to show signs of deterioration and the 2012 repairs have reached the end of their intended lifespan. IDOT is now planning to make long-term improvements to improve the condition of the mainline Kennedy Expressway structures to help ease maintenance and ensure their continual service.
A project area boundary has been defined adjacent to the bridge locations that encompasses various community and environmental resources. The overall project area and bridge locations are shown in the map below.
The I-90/Kennedy Expressway varies throughout the project area and includes:
- Four lanes inbound and outbound
- Two reversible lanes
- Multiple on and off ramps at interchanges
- Auxiliary lanes between interchanges
- Restricted shoulder widths due to overpass structures and the densely developed urban area
The projected benefits of the project include:
- Improved Infrastructure
- Structural Safety
- Reduced Maintenance Costs
- Reduced Impacts to Traffic During Maintenance
Details
IDOT develops and implements projects using the following three-phase process:
- Phase I: Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Studies. The I-90/Kennedy Expressway Bridge Rehabilitation Project has completed Phase I in 2021.
- Phase II: Contract Plan Preparation. The I-90/Kennedy Expressway Bridge Rehabilitation Project is currently in Phase II and completion of Phase II Contracts is anticipated in 2022 (Typically 18-24 months)
- Phase III: Construction and Construction Engineering (Typically 12-24 months)
This improvement is included in the Department’s FY 2022-2027 Proposed Highway Improvement Program. Current engineering efforts are targeted to enable a contract letting in the middle years of the multi-year program contingent upon plan readiness and funding availability through future annual legislative appropriations.
Environment
This project is being developed in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to ensure that environmental factors are weighted equally when compared to other factors in the decision-making process. Learn more about NEPA.
