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Cook County officials, together with federal, state, and local partners, have begun construction on a $36.7 million roadway project along the Franklin Avenue/Green Street corridor in the Villages of Franklin Park and Bensenville. The initiative aims to reduce traffic congestion, improve safety, and promote economic growth in the area.
The project will reconstruct 1.8 miles of roadway, expanding it from two lanes to five. New pedestrian and bicycle facilities will be added, and lighting and drainage systems will be updated. These improvements are expected to provide better mobility within a commercial and industrial corridor near O’Hare International Airport and the Canadian Pacific/Kansas City railyard.
Cook County is leading the construction effort while also contributing funding and technical expertise. The county secured $27.1 million from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program for this project. Other agencies involved include DuPage County, the Illinois Tollway, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), and the Villages of Bensenville and Franklin Park.
“This project was truly a team effort, combining the resources of local, state and federal governments to ensure its success,” said President Preckwinkle. “Motorists will be able to travel more efficiently through this area and businesses will benefit from better access to the nearby intermodal yard.”
The improvements are also designed to support regional access as part of ongoing work on the Illinois Tollway I-490 project.
“These local road improvements on Franklin Avenue and Green Street led by Cook County are critical to the delivery of the Illinois Tollway’s new Franklin Avenue Interchange providing direct access to both the future I-490 Tollway and the Tri-State Tollway (I-294),” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “The strong partnership between the County and the Tollway, as well as with the Villages of Franklin Park and Bensenville, will ensure enhanced mobility and improved access for businesses, freight and commuters in this key transportation corridor.”
Officials expect that upgrading Franklin Avenue/Green Street will attract private development, create jobs, ease congestion on local roads, and reduce unnecessary travel detours.
Construction is scheduled for completion by 2027. Drivers are advised to allow extra time when traveling through this area due to ongoing work.
More information about highway construction projects can be found at www.cookcountyil.gov/service/highway-construction-projects.
