Drivers should face fewer hassles in Bensenville near O’Hare International Airport thanks to $67 million in road and railway improvements.
Upgrades were recently finished at the intersection of Irving Park Road (Illinois 19) and York Road, according to a press release. That comes in conjunction with a new railroad overpass on Irving Park Road, which should eliminate a choke point while allowing approximately 25 trains to run though daily, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
“With the proximity to O’Hare International Airport and major rail lines, this project is a prime example of why Illinois is the transportation hub of North America,” Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn said in the press release. “We’ll see huge benefits for multiple modes of transportation, paving the way for future economic development, improved freight deliveries, faster commute times and, ultimately, a better quality of life in an important part of our state.”
IDOT Secretary Randy Blankenhorn
| Image courtesy of the State of Illinois
The intersection at Irving Park and York roads was widened and now has two lanes running in either direction, plus turning lanes. IDOT estimates that 60,000 vehicles a day pass through the intersection, many of them taking cargo into or out of the airport. Nearby, Irving Park Road was lowered to accommodate an overpass for the Canadian Pacific Railroad.
Wrap-up work on the projects -- along with the Illinois Tollway putting finishing touches on another section of Irving Park Road as work continues on its I-490 project -- could cause some traffic delays during the coming weeks, according to IDOT.
Improvements to traffic signals, landscaping, lighting and drainage were included in the projects, which were part of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency program.
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