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Kennedy ExpresswayThe Kennedy Expressway is a 26 mile (42 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 from Boston, MA to Seattle, WA). 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. Traveling eastbound from O'Hare, Interstate 190 merges into Interstate 90 as the Northwest Tollway portion of I-90 ends, just west of Illinois State Route 171 (Cumberland Avenue). Interstate 90 then merges with Interstate 94 at Montrose Avenue. The two stay joined through the city until I-90 exits at the Chicago Skyway on the Dan Ryan Expressway. History The Kennedy was originally constructed in the late 1950s and completed on November 5th, 1960. Originally named the Northwest Expressway for its general direction of travel, the Chicago City Council voted unanimously on November 29th, 1963 to rename the expressway after the late John F. Kennedy. Features The most distinct feature of the Kennedy Expressway is the Chicago Transit Authority rail line that lies in the median for about ten miles (16 km) north of Illinois State Route 19 (Irving Park Road). In 1984, the city of Chicago decided that to best serve the needs of the people regarding public transportation, light rail should be constructed in the median to O'Hare Airport instead of a fourth lane in both directions. The decision proved to be wise, as the rail line is heavily traveled by commuters and travelers during the rush hour. This decision was then repeated on the Dan Ryan Expressway and the Eisenhower Expressway. 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 until just north of the loop, a distance of about 13 miles (21 km). These reversible lanes allow 6 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. The lanes flip at approximately 1:00 PM to travel outbound, and 1 AM to travel inbound. The final distinct feature are the last two miles -- there are 9 exits in 2 miles along mileposts 50 and 51. (The southbound exit to Interstate 290 and Congress Parkway is marked as exit 51H-I!) While the density of interchanges is quite dangeorus, the hazard is partially offset by the fact that exits are 500 feet apart and on the right hand side, while entrances to the highway are also 500 feet apart, but on the left side. Nonetheless, the speed limit is still 45 mph in this area.
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