One lane of the new flyover ramp connecting the inbound Dan Ryan (I-90/94) to the outbound Eisenhower (I-290) opened to traffic on Sunday, and that’s good news for about 400,000 drivers who pass through the Jane Byrne Interchange daily.
The flyover ramp, which has been under construction since September 2014, is part of the ongoing Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction project. It replaces the existing single-lane ramp with a new two-lane ramp and bridge. The flyover begins just south of Roosevelt Road, arching over Harrison Street, the Jane Byrne Interchange and Halsted Street before linking to the outbound Eisenhower near Morgan Street.
Additionally, several required closures near the interchange as part of the flyover project have also been lifted. The Illinois Department of Transportation said it has reopened the Roosevelt Road entrance ramp to the outbound Eisenhower, restored both lanes on ramps from the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) to the inbound Dan Ryan, and reopened all lanes on the inbound Dan Ryan.
A second lane on the flyover ramp is expected to open with the completion of work on the outbound Eisenhower in summer 2018. Until then, traffic will be able to use one lane on the flyover, which IDOT says will help improve safety, efficiency and traffic flow at the busy interchange. Formerly the Circle Interchange, the Jane Byrne is among the most congested interchanges in the country and the bane of many Chicagoans’ existence. It’s not clear how much the new flyover will alleviate delays heading into and out of the Loop, but anything is better than the traffic nightmare many Chicagoans have come to expect over the past several years.
Want more? Sign up here to stay in the know.