Kennedy Expressway
Length:	16 miles (26 km)
Formed:	1963
Direction:	East-west
From:	O'Hare International Airport in far northwest Chicago, Illinois
To:	Interstates 90/94/290 west of the Chicago Loop
Major cities:	Chicago, Illinois
System:	Interstate highway system

The Kennedy Expressway is a 16 mile (26 km) long highway that travels northwest from the Chicago loop to O'Hare Airport. The Interstate 90 portion of the Kennedy is a part of the much longer I-90 (which runs 3111.52 miles [5,007.51 km] 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 3 miles long (5 km) and is meant to serve airport traffic. Image File history File links I-90. ... Image File history File links I-94. ... Image File history File links I-190. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... now. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ... Image File history File links I-90. ... Image File history File links I-94. ... Image File history File links I-290. ... Interstate 90 (abbreviated I-90) is the longest interstate highway in the United States at nearly 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers). ... Interstate 94 (abbreviated I-94) is a long interstate highway connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain region of the United States. ... Interstate 290 (abbreviated I-290) is the main Interstate highway due westward from the Chicago Loop. ... The Loop is what locals call the historical center of downtown Chicago. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ... The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly called the Interstate Highway System, is a network of freeways in the United States. ... An expressway is a divided highway, usually 4 lanes or wider. ... Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois Counties Cook, DuPage Incorporated March 4, 1837 Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area    - City 606. ... OHare International Airport is an airport located in Chicago, Illinois, 17 miles (27 km) northwest of the Chicago Loop. ... Interstate 90 (abbreviated I-90) is the longest interstate highway in the United States at nearly 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers). ... Nickname: City on the Hill, Beantown, The Hub of the Universe (The State House, according to Oliver Wendell Holmes, is the hub of the Solar System), Athens of America, The Cradle of Revolution Location in Massachusetts Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas M. Menino(D) Area    - City 232. ... Nickname: The Emerald City Location of Seattle in King County and Washington Coordinates: Country United States State Washington County King County Incorporated December 2, 1869 Mayor Greg Nickels Area    - City 369. ... Interstate 290 (abbreviated I-290) is the main Interstate highway due westward from the Chicago Loop. ... The Dwight D. Eisenhower Expressway, formerly called Congress Parkway, is the main Interstate highway west from the Chicago Loop. ... The Dan Ryan Expressway in 1970. ... MAJOR JUNCTIONS JUNCTION EXIT # Western Terminus U.S. 12/45 Mile 1. ...

Traveling eastbound from O'Hare, the Kennedy interchanges with the eastern terminus of the Northwest 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. The Northwest Tollway in Illinois is a 79 mile (127 km) segment of Interstate 90 from Interstate 190 in far northwest Chicago to Illinois State Route 75, one mile south of the Wisconsin state line. ... The Tri-State Tollway is a U.S. toll road maintained by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority in northeastern Illinois. ... Categories: Stub ... See also Interstate 172 Illinois Route 171 is a north-south state road in northeastern Illinois. ... The William G. Edens Expressway (also known as the Edens Parkway and the Edens Superhighway) is the main major expressway north from the city of Chicago. ... Interstate 94 (abbreviated I-94) is a long interstate highway connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain region of the United States. ...

On an average day, over 300,000 vehicles use some part of the Kennedy (2003 data). ^[1] The Kennedy and its South Side extension, the Dan Ryan, are the busiest roads in Illinois. The Dan Ryan Expressway in 1970. ...

History

The Kennedy was originally constructed 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 the late John F. Kennedy. 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... November 5 is the 309th day of the year (310th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 56 days remaining. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois Counties Cook, DuPage Incorporated March 4, 1837 Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area    - City 606. ... November 29 is the 333rd (in leap years the 334th) day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), also referred to as John F. Kennedy, JFK, John Kennedy, or Jack Kennedy, was the 35th President of the United States. ...

The express was last reconstructed from 1992 through 1994.^[2] 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. 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ...

Features

The most distinct feature of the Kennedy Expressway is the Chicago Transit Authority's Blue Line that lies in the median for about ten miles (16 km) north of Illinois Route 19 (Irving Park Road). 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 1950's within the medians of the Eisenhower Expressway and 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. Chicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois. ... The Blue Line (OHare-Forest Park-54/Cermak), consists of a 19. ... See also US 20 Illinois Route 19 is a state road in northeastern Illinois. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Dwight D. Eisenhower Expressway, formerly called Congress Parkway, is the main Interstate highway west from the Chicago Loop. ... The Dan Ryan Expressway in 1970. ... The Blue Line (OHare-Forest Park-54/Cermak), consists of a 19. ...

The Kennedy Expressway heading toward downtown Chicago.

The second distinct feature of the Kennedy Expressway are its reversible express lanes when Interstate 94 merges into Interstate 90. The reversible lanes lie in the median of the highway from the Kennedy Expwy/Edens Expwy junction until just north of the Loop, 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. See below for further information related to the timings of the reversible lanes. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 393 KB) Summary Eastbound Kennedy Expressway at the Fullerton Av. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 393 KB) Summary Eastbound Kennedy Expressway at the Fullerton Av. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Local-express 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. December 2005 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → 31 December 2005 (Saturday) 25-year-old Scottish human rights worker Kate Burton and her parents are freed unharmed in the Gaza Strip by the Palestinian gunmen who kidnapped them two days earlier. ...

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 of 2006, provides for changes as follows:

Incidents or observed traffic conditions may cause a deviation from the fixed schedule, so the best thing to do is to monitor radio traffic reports and check with IDOT's Gary-Chicago-Milwaukee Corridor web site for current traffic conditions and travel times. The web site also features an increasing number of camera views along the expressway system There also exists a Highway Advisory Radio along parts of the expressway, at AM 530 and AM 1610 as indicated on signs near the transmitting locations.

Interchanges

Shields next to exit numbers represent which Interstate the exit number represents. On the multiplexed I-90/94 combination, exit numbers are related to I-94 mile markers.

County	Location	Mile	#	Destinations	Notes
Cook	Chicago	2.5	None	Bessie Coleman Drive	Designated exit to International Terminal 5. Kennedy Expressway terminates further west at O'Hare International Airport terminals.
		1.75	2A-B	U.S. 12/45 Mannheim Road — Schiller Park, Rosemont	Formerly full cloverleaf interchange; branches to SB Mannheim Road from I-190 west were split off onto Bessie Coleman Drive in the early 1990s for safety purposes.
		1.00	1C-D	Interstate 294 — Indiana	Eastbound access to I-294 SB only; eastbound access to I-294 NB is via I-90.
		0.8	1A-B	River Road — Rosemont	Full cloverleaf interchange
		0.0	None	Interstate 90 East — Chicago Loop	Eastbound onramp, westbound offramp. Kennedy Expressway continues east on Interstate 90.
			78	Interstate 190 West / To Interstate 294 South — O'Hare International Airport, Indiana	Control city for Interstate 90 (Northwest Tollway) westbound is Madison, Wisconsin. I-90 west is also marked as "To Interstate 294 North — Milwaukee, Wisconsin". Kennedy Expressway continues west on I-190.
			79A-B	Illinois Route 171 — Cumberland Avenue	Full cloverleaf interchange. Westbound exit to northbound Cumberland Avenue actually runs to Illinois Route 72 - Higgins Road.
			80	Canfield Avenue	Westbound exit, eastbound entrance. Exit runs to Illinois Route 72 - Higgins Road.
			81A	Illinois Route 43 - Harlem Avenue	Eastbound exit runs to Illinois Route 72 - Higgins Road. Westbound exit runs to Bryn Mawr Avenue.
			81B	Sayre Avenue	Westbound exit, eastbound entrance. Exit runs to Bryn Mawr Avenue.
			82A	Nagle Avenue	Eastbound exit, westbound entrance. Exit runs to Gregory Street.
			82B	Bryn Mawr Avenue	Westbound exit only.
			82C	Austin Avenue	Also marked as "To Foster Avenue". Eastbound exit only. Exit runs to Avondale Avenue.
			83A	Foster Avenue	Westbound full access, eastbound exit only. Access to Foster Avenue provided eastbound via Austin Boulevard exit.
			83B	Central Avenue	Westbound exit, eastbound entrance. Exit to northbound Central Avenue only.
			84	Lawrence Avenue
			43C	Interstate 90 West — Rockford, Illinois, O'Hare	Left exit. No access to westbound Interstate 94 (Edens Expressway) from eastbound I-90 at this point. I-94 has a control city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Eastbound I-90 joins with I-94 traveling eastbound.
			43C	Montrose Avenue (4400 North)	Westbound exit, eastbound entrance.
			43D	Kostner Avenue (4600 West)	Westbound exit only.
			44A	Illinois Route 19 (Irving Park Road / 4000 North), Keeler Avenue (4200 West)	Eastbound exit, westbound entrance.
			44B	Illinois Route 19 (Irving Park Road / 4000 North), Pulaski Road (4000 West)	Westbound exit, eastbound entrance.
			45A	Addison Street (3600 North)
			45B	Kimball Avenue (3400 West)
			45C	Belmont Avenue (3200 North)	Also marked as "To Kedzie Avenue (3200 West)".
			46A	California Avenue (2800 West)	Eastbound exit, westbound entrance. Also marked as "To Diversey Avenue (2800 North)".
		Diversey Slip — Inbound and outbound exits and entrances to/from express lanes.
			46B	Diversey Avenue (2800 North)	Westbound exit, eastbound entrance. Also marked as "To California Avenue (2800 West)".
			47A	Fullerton Avenue (2400 North)	Also marked as "To Western Avenue (2400 West)".
			47B	Damen Avenue (2000 West)	Westbound exit, eastbound entrance.
			48A	Armitage Avenue (2000 North)
			48B	Illinois Route 64 — North Avenue (1600 North)
			49A	Division Street (1200 North)
			49B	Augusta Boulevard (to Milwaukee Avenue)	Westbound exit, eastbound entrance.
			50B	Ohio Street	Main exit to Ohio Feeder Ramp. Outbound entrance to express lanes.
			51A	Lake Street (300 North)	Westbound exit only
			51B	Randolph Street (200 North)	Right exits, left entrances
			51C	Washington Boulevard (100 North)	Right exits, no entrances
			51D	Madison Avenue (0 North/South)	Right exits, left entrances
			51E	Monroe Street (100 South)	Right exits, no entrances
			51F	Adams Street (200 South)	Right exits, left entrances
			51G	Jackson Boulevard (300 South)	Right exits, no entrances
			51H	Congress Parkway - Chicago Loop
			51I	Interstate 290 East (Eisenhower Expressway) — West Suburbs	Eastern terminus of the Kennedy Expressway. Western/northern terminus of the Dan Ryan Expressway. Interstates 90/94 continues east/south onto the Dan Ryan Expressway.

Exit numbers on Interstate 4 in Volusia County, Florida. ... Cook County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ... Image File history File links I-190. ... Image File history File links US_12. ... Image File history File links US_45. ... U.S. Route 12, or US 12, is an east-west United States highway running from downtown Detroit almost 2500 miles (4000 km) to Grays Harbor on the Pacific Ocean in the northwest corner of the state of Washington. ... U.S. Highway 45 is a north-south United States highway. ... Schiller Park is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Rosemont is a village located in Cook County, Illinois, founded in 1956. ... Image File history File links I-294. ... Categories: Stub ... Rosemont is a village located in Cook County, Illinois, founded in 1956. ... Image File history File links I-90. ... Interstate 90 (abbreviated I-90) is the longest interstate highway in the United States at nearly 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers). ... Image File history File links I-90. ... Interstate 90 (abbreviated I-90) is the longest interstate highway in the United States at nearly 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers). ... Image File history File links I-90. ... Image File history File links I-190. ... MAJOR JUNCTIONS JUNCTION EXIT # Western Terminus U.S. 12/45 Mile 1. ... Image File history File links I-294. ... Categories: Stub ... now. ... Official language(s) English Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Area  Ranked 38th  - Total 36,418 sq mi (94,321 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 270 miles (435 km)  - % water 1. ... Image File history File links I-90. ... Interstate 90 (abbreviated I-90) is the longest interstate highway in the United States at nearly 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers). ... The Northwest Tollway in Illinois is a 79 mile (127 km) segment of Interstate 90 from Interstate 190 in far northwest Chicago to Illinois State Route 75, one mile south of the Wisconsin state line. ... Nickname: Mad Town or Mad City Location of Madison in Dane County, Wisconsin Municipality City Incorporated 1848 Mayor Dave Cieslewicz Area    - City km²  (84. ... Image File history File links I-294. ... Categories: Stub ... Nickname: Cream City, Mil Town, Brew City, The City of Festivals Location of Milwaukee in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Coordinates: County Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett Area    - City 251. ... Image File history File links Illinois_171. ... See also Interstate 172 Illinois Route 171 is a north-south state road in northeastern Illinois. ... Image File history File links Illinois_72. ... See also Interstate 72 Illinois Route 72 is an east-west state road in northeastern Illinois. ... Image File history File links Illinois_72. ... See also Interstate 72 Illinois Route 72 is an east-west state road in northeastern Illinois. ... Image File history File links Illinois_43. ... See also U.S. 41 U.S. 45 Illinois State Route 43 is a major north-south state road that runs from the large intersection of Illinois State Route 120 (Belvidere Road) and U.S. Highway 41 (Skokie Highway) in Waukegan south through the city of Chicago to U.S... Image File history File links Illinois_72. ... See also Interstate 72 Illinois Route 72 is an east-west state road in northeastern Illinois. ... Image File history File links I-94. ... Image File history File links I-90. ... Interstate 90 (abbreviated I-90) is the longest interstate highway in the United States at nearly 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers). ... Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. Traditionally referred to as The Forest City, Rockford is classified as a mid-sized city as it has 150,115 residents, while the metro area has 320,204 residents (2000 Census). ... now. ... Image File history File links I-94. ... Interstate 94 (abbreviated I-94) is a long interstate highway connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain region of the United States. ... The William G. Edens Expressway (also known as the Edens Parkway and the Edens Superhighway) is the main major expressway north from the city of Chicago. ... Image File history File links I-90. ... Interstate 90 (abbreviated I-90) is the longest interstate highway in the United States at nearly 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers). ... Nickname: Cream City, Mil Town, Brew City, The City of Festivals Location of Milwaukee in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Coordinates: County Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett Area    - City 251. ... Image File history File links Illinois_19. ... See also US 20 Illinois Route 19 is a state road in northeastern Illinois. ... Image File history File links Illinois_19. ... See also US 20 Illinois Route 19 is a state road in northeastern Illinois. ... Image File history File links Illinois_64. ... See also U.S. 62 Interstate 64 U.S. 66 U.S. 67 Illinois Route 64 is an east-west road in north-central Illinois. ... The Loop is what locals call the historical center of downtown Chicago. ... Image File history File links I-290. ... Interstate 290 (abbreviated I-290) is the main Interstate highway due westward from the Chicago Loop. ... The Dwight D. Eisenhower Expressway, formerly called Congress Parkway, is the main Interstate highway west from the Chicago Loop. ... The Dan Ryan Expressway in 1970. ... Image File history File links I-90. ... Image File history File links I-94. ... Interstate 90 (abbreviated I-90) is the longest interstate highway in the United States at nearly 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers). ... Interstate 94 (abbreviated I-94) is a long interstate highway connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain region of the United States. ...

External links

• Illinois Highways

References

edit Expressways in Chicagoland
	Stevenson Expressway		Interstate 57		Interstate 65
	Kingery Expressway | Borman Expressway		Tri-State Tollway		Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway
	Northwest Tollway | Chicago Skyway | Indiana Toll Road		Dan Ryan Expressway		Kennedy Expressway
	Edens Spur | Edens Expressway | Bishop Ford Freeway		Eisenhower Expressway		North-South Tollway
	Lake Shore Drive | Skokie Highway		Illinois Route 53		Kingery Highway
	Amstutz Expressway		Illinois Route 394		Elgin-O'Hare Expressway
	Cline Avenue