They Are Removing Tollway Oasis’s! Hinsdale and O’Hare Oasis Have Been Removed (areas, congestion)

[LeisureSLarry]

g-damnit - now I wont be able to drive to Ohare.

[GWoodle]

Originally Posted by LeisureSLarry

g-damnit - now I wont be able to drive to Ohare.

You also need to face 2 more years of construction on the central Tri State from the I-290/I-88 junction north to Balmoral just outside of O'Hare. Then you have new construction of behind O'Hare new tollway connecting someday with Elgin-O'Hare Tollway.

O'Hare badly needs to improve people mover to new Metra & parking garage location.

[Bitey]

I still haven't worked out how the "western entrance" to O'Hare is going to work. So you get to the western entrance, and then... where does it go? How does it get there? Or is it just going to be bunch of parking rather than actual entrances to departure/arrival terminals?

[ChiGuy2.5]

Originally Posted by Bitey

I still haven't worked out how the "western entrance" to O'Hare is going to work. So you get to the western entrance, and then... where does it go? How does it get there? Or is it just going to be bunch of parking rather than actual entrances to departure/arrival terminals?

It's a western branch of the highway that connects to 294 on one end and 90 on the other. This allows for traffic flow around the airport and connects some of the closer western suburbs to a more direct route to the airport.

If that's what you're asking about...

[Bitey]

No, I'm talking about the actual western entrance to O'Hare. All that map above shows is a new alternative to get to the western edge of the airport (390 extension, which is about 95% done) and a new western bypass around the airport (I-490).

But this map shows entrances and exits from both 390 and I-490 to and from the west side of the airport.

Where are those ramps going? A new departure/arrival loop for passengers? New parking infrastructure? Or just a bunch of cargo/logistics infrastructure?

[ChiGuy2.5]

Originally Posted by Bitey

No, I'm talking about the actual western entrance to O'Hare. All that map above shows is a new alternative to get to the western edge of the airport (390 extension, which is about 95% done) and a new western bypass around the airport (I-490).

But this map shows entrances and exits from both 390 and I-490 to and from the west side of the airport.

Where are those ramps going? A new departure/arrival loop for passengers? New parking infrastructure? Or just a bunch of cargo/logistics infrastructure?

Got it! My thinking is those ramps will primarily be for freight carriers and employees. It appears to be connecting to the existing irving park road and a couple of underground tunnels which will likely lead to the fedex shipping center and other freight carriers.

[Bitey]

Originally Posted by ChiGuy2.5

Got it! My thinking is those ramps will primarily be for freight carriers and employees. It appears to be connecting to the existing irving park road and a couple of underground tunnels which will likely lead to the fedex shipping center and other freight carriers.

So... everyone else will still have to deal with the 190 bottleneck to get to the terminals. But I guess you'll get to the bottleneck a few minutes sooner if you're coming in from the west suburbs, so there's that.

[GWoodle]

Originally Posted by Bitey

So... everyone else will still have to deal with the 190 bottleneck to get to the terminals. But I guess you'll get to the bottleneck a few minutes sooner if you're coming in from the west suburbs, so there's that.

I think your only hope is there will be more traffic going behind O'Hare to get from 294 to 90. From 90 into the airport fight with 190 traffic.

To do what you want may require some kind of ring road on the O'Hare property. Maybe the air freight can go that way. Other plans would require a tunnel to be built under O'Hare. If they ever do high speed rail connection (something similar to Orlando Brightline) would require tunnel to be built.

Something O'Hare does not have is an alternate way to get out if/when bad wreck blocks 190. If you can't get to Manheim you could be stuck.

[Bitey]

Originally Posted by GWoodle

I think your only hope is there will be more traffic going behind O'Hare to get from 294 to 90. From 90 into the airport fight with 190 traffic.

To do what you want may require some kind of ring road on the O'Hare property. Maybe the air freight can go that way. Other plans would require a tunnel to be built under O'Hare. If they ever do high speed rail connection (something similar to Orlando Brightline) would require tunnel to be built.

Something O'Hare does not have is an alternate way to get out if/when bad wreck blocks 190. If you can't get to Manheim you could be stuck.

Yeah, I imagine sending some through-traffic around the west side of the airport will help relieve some of the bunching up that inevitably happens at the current I-90/I-294 interchange, as people just looking to get to the other side of town have to fight people trying to get to the airport for access to the same exchange ramp.

I'm disappointed there's still only going to be one access road to the terminals but also understand the infrastructure requirements of doing anything more than what's being done now would be absolutely astounding.

[MarianRavenwood]

The idea is that you will be able to get off at Irving Park Road and travel around the airport to the terminals.


But the idea is also to divert truck traffic away from 294 so that it is less congested. And then you can still take the tollway to the airport and it will be less congested and therefore a more pleasant trip.


Most truck traffic in Chicago is just going through. Anything we can do to shunt that traffic away from those who live there is better for everyone.