Intersection Improvements, Grade Separation Complete at Irving Park Road and York Road

BENSENVILLE - The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today the completion of an intersection improvement at Irving Park Road (Illinois 19) and York Road, which follows a companion project to build a new railroad overpass on Irving Park Road. The combined $67 million in projects, part of the CREATE program, will reduce congestion, improve safety and create economic opportunity throughout the region.

"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," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn. "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."

Work wrapped up this week to widen the Irving Park Road and York Road intersection to two lanes in each direction, with the addition of turn lanes. More than 60,000 vehicles each day pass through the intersection, a key access point for cargo entering and leaving the airport.

Additional project elements include traffic signal modernization, landscaping, lighting and drainage improvements. Some traffic impacts will continue in the coming weeks as IDOT completes miscellaneous items, such as electrical work and landscaping, and the Illinois Tollway finishes nearby Irving Park Road improvements as part its I-490 project. 

"DuPage County funded a significant portion of the design work for this project, which improves safety and reduces congestion at the rail crossing," said DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin. "The 60,000 vehicles that pass through this intersection daily should now travel through without delay, especially benefiting those seeking freight access to O'Hare International Airport."

The new railroad overpass eliminated a notorious bottleneck by lowering Irving Park Road and building a Canadian Pacific Railroad overpass separate from regular vehicle traffic. The grade separation eliminated hours of wasted time for drivers stopped at the crossing and enabled a daily average of 25 trains to run uninterrupted at all times.

The overpass and intersection improvements by IDOT were done in conjunction with the Village of Bensenville, DuPage County, the City of Chicago's O'Hare Modernization Program, the Canadian Pacific Railroad and Metra.

The CREATE program - the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program - is a first-of-its-kind partnership between the U.S. Department of Transportation, the State of Illinois, City of Chicago, Cook County, Metra, Amtrak, and the nation's largest freight railroads. A project of national significance, CREATE will invest billions in critically needed improvements to increase the efficiency of the region's passenger and freight rail infrastructure and enhance the quality of life for Chicago-area residents. For more information, visit www.createprogram.org.