IDOT Proposes Moving I-290 On/Off Ramps In Oak Park
From left to right.
That’s the shift the Illinois Department of Transportation is proposing for two on and off ramps on I-290 located at Harlem Ave. and Austin Ave. on Monday according to the Oak Leaves newspaper.
These two entrance/exit ramps are familiar to motorists who drive to or from the west as they come through Oak Park. These two exits are unique as the ramps are located in the center of the expressway as opposed on the right hand side like most on and off ramps.
The reason for the suggested ramp moves is safety according to the Chicago Tribune.
Supposedly this stretch of expressway between Cicero Avenue and Mannheim Road are the most dangerous portion of any expressway in the Chicagoland area with about 2000 crashes a year in that eight mile span. One IDOT spokesperson says left side ramps are 49% more dangerous than traditional right lane ramps.
At this point, it’s still a concept with no firm timeline in place according to IDOT.
Read the Tribune’s story, “IDOT proposes moving left-lane ramps on Eisenhower Expressway.”
The comments about them being “unique” and therefore worthy of being kept are asinine. The reason they’re unique is because after they were built, highway designers quickly realized it was a stupid idea and stopped doing it.
Wow, they finally figured out that turning the fast lane in a 4 lane highway into a stoplight is not smart.
Someone else was thinking what I was thinking! This will be great for visitors.