Interstate 190 Illinois

Overview

Interstate 190 represents the western extent of the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago. The spur directly links Interstate 90 with O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Although it is primarily designed to connect to the O'Hare passenger terminals, the freeway also provides the connections from I-90 west to I-294 (Tri-State Tollway) south and from the tollway north to the inbound Kennedy Expressway along I-90 east. Passenger rail rapid transit accompanies all of I-190, serving commuters between Downtown and the airport.

The $23.89 million East River Road / Cumberland Flyover Project improved connections at the east end of Interstate 190, where the Kennedy Expressway combines with I-90 leading into Chicago. Design work was approved for the project on March 4, 2011. The East River Road contract was let on September 18, 2015. Construction completed by November 2016 rebuilt the East River Road overpass to accommodate expansion of I-90 and the new distributor roadway along eastbound. Overall work finished by November 2018 (IDOT, n.d.a).

History

Opened to traffic on November 5, 1960, the Kennedy Expressway originates at the Jane Byrne (Circle) Interchange with the Dan Ryan Expressway and Eisenhower Expressway (Interstate 290). Connecting Downtown Chicago with O'Hare International Airport (ORD), the 16 mile long expressway was constructed at a cost of $237 million (Chicago Public Library, 1997) (McClendon, 2005). Prior to 1978, the Kennedy Expressway was numbered as just I-94 from the Circle Interchange northwest to the Edens Expressway, as Illinois Route 194 from the Edens Expressway to the Northwest Tollway, and as Illinois Route 594 along the O'Hare Airport spur. I-90 at the time was routed along the Eisenhower Expressway.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) request to add Illinois Route 594 to the Interstate system in a letter dated October 25, 1978. The route was found to be constructed to Interstate standards and deemed a logical addition to the system. The American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHTO) approved Interstate 190 on January 23, 1979.

Originally named the Northwest Expressway, the freeway was renamed the John F. Kennedy Expressway on November 29, 1963, one week to the minute after the famous U.S. President was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. New rapid transit rail service went into operation within the Kennedy Expressway median on February 1, 1970, shortly after commuter rail service began on the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) (Chicago Public Library, 1997) (McClendon, 2005).

The U.S. Route 12/45 Mannheim Road Project underway between Spring 2013 and October 2015 reconfigured the cloverleaf interchange joining Interstate 190 with the arterial route. Split into two contracts, work widened 3.2 miles of U.S. 12/45 to six overall lanes north of IL 19 (Irving Park Road) to IL 72 (Higgins Road). The $59.6 million project removed both eastbound ramps from I-190 to Mannheim Road (IDOT, n.d.b). The connection to U.S. 12/45 was shifted onto O'Hare Road east from Bessie Coleman Road to the entrance ramps near Balmoral Avenue.

East End  ‐ Chicago, IL

Kennedy Expwy – East at

Interstate 190 continues east from the ramps with the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) through a three quarter cloverleaf interchange (Exits 1 B/A) with River Road. The Kennedy Expressway converges with I-90 in 0.9 miles. 07/18/26

Kennedy Expwy – West at

Interstate 190 commences west from the c/d roadway (Exit 79) joining I-90 with IL 171 (Cumberland Avenue) at Exit 0. I-90 shifts onto the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway while the Kennedy Expressway extends west along I-190 to O’Hare International Airport (ORD). 07/18/26

East End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Kennedy Expwy - East at

Replaced overheads along I-190 (Kennedy Expressway) east at Exit 1 B. 06/13/15

West at Kennedy Expwy

Interstate 190 formerly branched west from I-90 two miles beyond Exit 80 for Canfield Road in Chicago. 09/03/05

West End  ‐ O’Hare International Airport (ORD) – Chicago, IL

Kennedy Expwy – West at Chicago O’Hare Int’l Airport

Interstate 190 curves southwest from the Tri-State Tollway to the three quarter cloverleaf interchange (Exit 2 A) with U.S. 12-45 (Mannheim Road). 06/20/15

Kennedy Expwy – East

The airport access road continues past the passenger terminals and turns east to leave O’Hare International Airport via I-190 (Kennedy Expressway). 06/20/15

West End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Kennedy Expressway - West

Replaced overheads for the three-quarter cloverleaf interchange joining I-190 with U.S. 12/45 at Exit 2. 09/03/05

Kennedy Expressway - East

The Kennedy Expressway passes below a pair of airport runways a quarter mile ahead of the unnumbered exit for Bessie Coleman Drive and O’Hare Way east. Bessie Coleman Drive serves Airport Return/Rental Car Pickup areas while O’Hare Way winds east to connect with U.S. 12/45 (Mannheim Road). 09/03/05