Transportation officials gathered in the village of Justice in Cook County on Tuesday to affirm their commitment to building an interchange on the Tri-State Tollway at 88th Avenue/Cork Avenue in the Chicago suburb.
The Illinois Tollway, Illinois Department of Transportation, Cook County, village of Justice and the federal government plan to sign a memorandum of understanding to proceed with the engineering and building of the interchange. In addition, an intergovernmental agreement would have to be reached that would break down how the project, expected to cost $30 million, would be paid for, according to the Tollway.
The work is part of the $4 billion Central Tri-State Tollway Project, which involves widening and improving a 22-mile stretch of I-294 between Balmoral Avenue in Rosemont and 95th Street in Oak Lawn.
The village of Justice has used about $1.4 million in federal funds to complete the initial environmental and engineering studies required to advance the project, and the next phase of additional engineering studies will be done by the village itself, according to the Tollway. Justice has received $13.5 million in federal funding for its share of the cost of the Tollway interchange project.
The village has completed preliminary engineering and environmental studies at 88thAvenue/Cork Avenue for the addition of a northbound exit ramp from I-294 and a southbound entrance ramp to I-294. This work also would be compatible with a future northbound I-294 entrance ramp from Archer Road, according to the Tollway. Work also would include widening the 88th/Cork Avenue bridge over the Tri-State, with the addition of sidewalks and a multi-use path, as well as intersection improvements with 88th/Cork Avenue at 79th Street and at Archer Road, according to the village.
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Source: Daily Southtown (Chicago Tribune)
