Chicago Construction News staff writer
Construction has begun on a $99.1 million project to rebuild Touhy Avenue and Mount Prospect Road, a key corridor carrying more than 32,000 vehicles daily through Elk Grove Village, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Township and Chicago.
The project will include a new bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad and the planned I-490 Tollway, realignment of Old Higgins Road and Mount Prospect Road, a shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists, upgraded lighting, and modern drainage systems.
“This project was truly a team effort, combining the resources of local, state and federal governments to ensure its success,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “Motorists will be able to travel safely and more efficiently through the Touhy Avenue corridor, and local businesses will benefit from new access to the Tollway’s new I-490 corridor, bringing important economic activity to areas across the county.”
Touhy Avenue is a vital link for trucks, connecting to the largest industrial district in the Chicago area north and west of O’Hare International Airport, and the project will improve access to airport facilities, including the new northeast air cargo center, employee and remote parking, car rental services, and the I-490 Tollway.
“The Illinois Tollway and Cook County have a successful track record for advancing joint initiatives that enhance mobility for drivers and deliver meaningful benefits for communities,” said Cassaundra Rouse, executive director of the Illinois Tollway. “This Touhy Avenue project is integral to the construction of the new I-490 Tollway and the completion of our $4.3 billion Elgin O’Hare Western Access Project, improving north-south traffic around the western border of O’Hare and creating long-awaited western access to the airport.”
“Safety is at the heart of everything we do,” said Liisa Lawson Stark, vice-president of public affairs for Union Pacific Railroad. “This project removes risks associated with at-grade crossings while improving the efficiency of our rail network.”
The reconstruction is a collaboration among Cook County, the Illinois Tollway, Illinois Department of Transportation, the city of Chicago, Chicago Department of Aviation, Elk Grove Township, Elk Grove Village and Des Plaines. Funding includes $41.5 million in federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds and $5 million from IDOT’s 2024 Local Project Funding program. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2027.
Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution around work zones. A map of 2026 DoTH highway construction projects is available at cookcountyil.gov/service/highway-construction-projects
Great to see this long-needed infrastructure investment moving forward. Improvements like this can make a real difference for safety, traffic flow, and long-term economic growth in the area.