Residents Weigh in on I-290 Reconstruction

There are Oak Parkers on both sides of the fence about IDOT's proposal to widen the Eisenhower Expressway through Oak Park. 

At a special Oak Park Village Board meeting Monday, village presentations outlined IDOT's proposed reconstruction of I-290 from a village perspective before IDOT holds two public meetings on the project next week. IDOT is proposing to widen I-290 from six to eight lanes and move and elevate the exit and entrance ramps to the right side of the expressway at Harlem Avenue and Austin Boulevard. 

READ: "OAK PARK ON I-290 RECONSTRUCTION: CONGESTION, SAFETY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AMONG CONCERNS"

Despite a few public comments about a sad-looking meeting turnout, village trustees said they were encouraged by the attendance and stressed the importance of engaging the community as the project moves forward.

Trustee Peter Barber said he counted more than 100 people at the meeting, held at Irving Elementary School. 

Oak Parkers' comments on the Ike project have proven to be effective in the past, when IDOT proposed a project that would have expanded I-290 into Oak Park. 

See the video above of the public comment portion of the meeting.

Among issues addressed in public comments Monday included environmental issues, increased traffic, and safety concerns.

Bill Peterman, an Oak Parker who served on the Elgin O'Hare Bypass Study, cautioned the village and residents not to be distracted by IDOT's colorful mockups and grand designs that may not be fundable through IDOT. 

Jim Kelly, a board member of the South East Oak Park Community Organization, joked that the one advantage of elevated ramps would be the view of south Oak Park. South Oak Park has struggled with separation problems since the Ike was built, he said. Elevated ramps would only increase the barrier. 

Kelly, among others, also addressed the impact the project could have on the Harlem and Austin CTA Blue Line stations. "I would love to see the transit station areas improve so there's access from both sides... It makes a lot of sense (to facilitate ease for commuters)," he said. 

"We're going to experience visual pollution, chemical pollution... It's not a solution," he said. "I challenge IDOT to show us any (expansion) project... that actually eased the flow of traffic."

Elizabeth Rexford said that increased congestion could hurt the quality of life—and therefore property values—in her neighborhood. 

She added that as a CTA rider, she's concerned about getting to the Austin station, which is already a tricky station to access, during reconstruction. 

"We haven't been hearing about how long it's going to take to do the construction... I need this transportation," she said. 

Resident Emily Dougherty urged the village to be "more cooperative" about the project. Dougherty, who uses I-290 often, said she decided to live in Oak Park because it's the easiest place to live to get to and from other areas. 

"I would appreciate Oak Park to be somewhat more cooperative... I think there is a negative connotation that Oak Park is going to fight the Eisenhower," she said.

Mike Johnson, who has young children and lives in the 800 block of South Maple Avenue, said he's concerned about how the area will be affected during construction. 

The neighborhood, he said, is the one that is most impacted by the Ike, and is one of the most purely residential areas of Oak Park.

"To get anywhere from there, we have to drive," he said. "I'm really concerned about the traffic and the construction issues... that I think will be overlooked (in) the final picture." 

IDOT will host its third round of public open house meetings next week from 5-8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7 at the Chicago Marriott, 625 S. Ashland Ave. in Chicago and Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Proviso Math and Science Academy, 8601 Roosevelt Rd. in Forest Park. 

Find out more about the I-290 Reconstruction Project at eisenhowerexpressway.com.