Quote:
Originally Posted by denizen467
Are you saying you had hoped for a project that is on the W and S edges of the airport to ameliorate a problem on its NE corner? At best you'd end up with a gas-guzzling detour around the airport in order to finally arrive at Rosemont. Isn't the simplest prescription here to add an EB off-ramp around Higgins or something like that? It would need toll booths -- maybe all of this is already contemplated for the Addams rebuild?
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The Elgin-Ohare project includes upgrades to surface arterials and even the Tri-State exit to North Avenue. Some limited modifications in the Rosemont area are not out of the question.
The closest thing is that IDOT is proposing a new diverging diamond interchange at Elmhurst Rd instead of the partial cloverleaf that they use now, which would allow for direct access to Higgins and - finally - an exit for inbound drivers on the endless stretch between Arlington Hts Rd and the Tri State. I'm not sure this will be any faster than the alternatives I mentioned above. Then again, a detour around the airport probably wouldn't be any faster either.
The reverse of my desired move - ie getting onto the outbound NW Tollway from Rosemont - is easy via a direct ramp at Devon. It only makes sense that there should be a counterpart somewhere - especially if the Rosemont Blue Line station is to fulfill its potential as a park and ride. The surface lot could be redeveloped into a garage to provide a much greater capacity - this might even be possible at no cost to CTA if they picked the right partner and landed a grant. Cumberland's garage virtually never fills up, but in order to get to Cumberland, you have to pass the terrible bottleneck where 90 and 190 merge. This is a huge disincentive to everyone except NW Side and Park Ridge residents who can access the garage via local streets.
One thing I have not seen seen addressed is the fate of the Des Plaines Oasis. It sits exactly where the interchange with the West Bypass will be, so it will either need to be eliminated or moved elsewhere.