Kennedy Expressway

Infobox road
marker_

state=IL
highway_name=Kennedy Expressway
maint=IDOT
length_mi=17.80
length_round=2
length_ref=
established=1963
direction_a=West
terminus_a=
direction_b=East
terminus_b=Jct|state=IL|I|90|I|94|I|290 (Circle Interchange) just west of the Chicago LoopThe Kennedy Expressway is a convert|17.80|mi|km|2|adj=on long highway that travels northwest from the Chicago Loop to O'Hare International Airport. The Interstate 90 portion of the Kennedy is a part of the much longer I-90 (which runs convert|3111.52|mi|km|2 from Boston, Massachusetts to Seattle, Washington). The Kennedy's official endpoints are the Circle Interchange with Interstate 290 (Eisenhower Expressway / Congress Parkway) and the Dan Ryan Expressway (also I-90/94) at the east end, and the O'Hare Airport terminals at the west end. The Interstate 190 portion of the Kennedy is convert|3.07|mi|km|2 long and is meant to serve airport traffic. Interstate 90 picks up the Kennedy destination and runs a further convert|6.29|mi|km|2, before joining with I-94 for the final convert|8.44|mi|km|2.

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The Kennedy Expressway heading toward downtown Chicago.Traveling eastbound from O'Hare, the Kennedy interchanges with the eastern terminus of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (Interstate 90) and with the Tri-State Tollway (Interstate 294) at a complex junction just west of Illinois Route 171 (Cumberland Avenue). The Kennedy later merges with the southern end of the Edens Expressway (Interstate 94) at Montrose Avenue; the Kennedy (at this point both I-90 and I-94) then turns south to its junction with the Dan Ryan and Eisenhower Expressways and Congress Parkway at the Circle Interchange in downtown Chicago. With up to 327,000 vehicles traveling on some portions of the Kennedy daily, the Kennedy and its South Side extension, the Dan Ryan, are the busiest roads in Illinois.cite web |author=Illinois Technology Transfer Center |url=http://www.dot.state.il.us/gist2/select.html |title=T2 GIS Data |accessdate=2007-11-08 |date=2006]

History

The Kennedy was originally constructed along the route of Avondale Avenue, an existing diagonal street, and the northwest railroad corridor, in the late 1950s and completed on November 5, 1960. Originally named the Northwest Expressway for its general direction of travel, the Chicago City Council voted unanimously on November 29, 1963 to rename the expressway after John F. Kennedy.

The express was last reconstructed from 1992 through 1994. [Hilkevitch, John. [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0603260419mar26,1,7032775.story?coll=chi-news-hed Buckle up, it looks like a long ride.] "Chicago Tribune". Published March 26, 2006. Retrieved March 26, 2006.] The existing express lanes, which previously were reversed by hand, were modernized. In addition, all aspects of the express lanes system were computerized, so that the process could be controlled at both ends from a central location. At least once a day, however, IDOT crews still examine the express lanes for debris while the lanes are still closed.

Features

One feature of the Kennedy Expressway is the Chicago Transit Authority's Blue Line that lies in the median for about ten miles (16 km) from just south of Addison Street to just east of Manheim rd. In 1984, the city of Chicago decided that to best serve the needs of the people regarding public transportation, a rapid transit line should be constructed in the median to O'Hare Airport instead of a fourth lane in both directions. This had been done previously in the early 1950s within the medians of the Eisenhower Expressway, and for the Dan Ryan Expressway in 1969. The decision proved to be wise, as the rail line is heavily traveled by commuters and travelers during the rush hour.

The second distinct feature of the Kennedy Expressway are its reversible express lanes where Interstate 94 merges into Interstate 90. The reversible lanes lie in the median of the highway from the Kennedy Expressway/Edens Expressway junction until just north of the Loop (at Ohio street), a distance of about 8 miles (13 km). These reversible lanes allow 2 lanes of traffic to flow towards or away from the city, depending on the time of the day. The lanes are controlled by computers and verified by humans at a separate control center. Steel mesh barriers and breakaway gates prevent traffic from entering oncoming lanes. To date, there has never been a successful wrong-way vehicle incursion incident in the express lanes. See below for further information related to the timings of the reversible lanes.

The final distinct feature are the last two miles — there are 9 exits in 2 miles along mileposts 50 and 51, and the southbound exit to Interstate 290 and Congress Parkway is marked as exits 51H and I. While the density of interchanges is quite dangerous, the hazard is partially offset by the fact that exits are 500 feet (152 meters) apart and on the right hand side, while entrances to the highway are also 500 feet apart, but on the left side. In spite of the separated nature of the interchanges, there is little to no acceleration zone on the entrance ramps, and traffic on the ramps cannot see mainline traffic until the last fifty feet (15 meters) of the ramp. Because of these factors, the speed limit is still 45 mph (70 km/h) in this area. In December of 2005, as part of replacing the Washington Street bridge, the city of Chicago closed its entrance ramps to the Kennedy as a safety measure while still allowing access to the expressway from the West Loop.

Emergency Traffic Patrol (IDOT Minutemen)

All portions of the Kennedy expressway between Manheim road (I-190) and I-290/Congress parkway are patrolled by the Illinois State Police and the IDOT Emergency Traffic Patrol (IDOT ETP "Minutemen"). The ETP patrol 24/7/365 and can be recognized by their large bright yellow-green wreckers and orange jumpsuits. They can be reached at *999 via cellphone and respond to all manner of expressway incidents that you may be involved in from flat tires and no gas to major crashes. They are direct state employees and all of their services are free of charge (gasoline nominal mail-in charge). If your vehicle is disabled, attempt to pull immediately to the shoulder, place your hazard lights on and STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE until ETP arrival! If your vehicle stalls in a live lane of traffic and you are unable to coast to the shoulder, immediately place your hazard lights on, dial 911 (especially if traffic is moving at high speeds) and *999 if you have a cell phone and inform the operator that you are stalled in an interstate traffic lane; and brace for a possible high-speed rear end collision, but remain in your vehicle! An ETP vehicle wil arrive within twenty minutes (much sooner if you are in a lane). Never walk on or cross the Kennedy Expressway on foot! Also, never accept unsolicited help from a private towing company. These companies often attempt to illegally prey on vulnerable motorists and charge exorbitant rates. If you have a motor club, call them. But DO allow the ETP driver to fix your issue or relocate your vehicle to a safe spot off the interstate. The ETP and/or state trooper can provide you with a list of reputable towing companies.

Reversible Lanes

The reversible lanes are generally operated on a fixed weekly schedule based on historical traffic data, but changes in schedule may be made based on incidents or observed traffic conditions. The regular schedule, provided by an email from the Illinois Department of Transportation in June 2006, provides for changes as follows:

References

External links

* [http://www.gcmtravelstats.com/Default.aspx?selLinks1=24 Historic, Current & Average Travel Times For The Kennedy Expressway]