Economic Development
Economic Development
The Illinois Tollway plays a vital role in fostering economic development throughout the state by connecting communities, investing in construction and supporting job growth. Transportation infrastructure enables the efficient movement of people, goods and services, which is essential to a thriving economy.
Mobility is more than just transportation – it is about promoting economic vitality, social equity and environmental responsibility. Through strategic investments, the Tollway improves access to employment centers and freight connections to industrial sites, helping attract new businesses while retaining existing ones. By aligning transportation investments to enhance access for underserved communities, the Tollway ensures that economic opportunity is inclusive and equitable. Maintaining reliable infrastructure and planning for future mobility creates long-term economic benefits, strengthens regional resilience and collectively supports growth and prosperity across the state.
Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90)
The Illinois Tollway completed the $2.5 billion rebuilding and widening of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) in 2017 as part of the Move Illinois capital program. This SmartRoad corridor links Rockford to O’Hare International Airport featuring active traffic management and integrated transit. The intention was to improve mobility, relieve congestion, reduce pollution, create jobs and link economies across the Midwest region.
The I-90 Project included the addition of a fourth travel lane in each direction between Elgin and the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and improved access by adding or expanding interchanges at Barrington, Roselle, Meacham, and Elmhurst Roads.
These improvements were anticipated to benefit Tollway customers and neighboring communities by shortening commutes, reducing congestion delays and supporting opportunities for economic growth through improved Tollway access at the four interchanges.
The Illinois Tollway studied the economic impacts, growth benefits and outcomes of the project between the City of Elgin and O’Hare International Airport on I-90 and completed the I-90 Economic Impact Report in 2026. Learn more about the benefits created by the new ramps at the four interchanges, linking residents and employees to local businesses and job opportunities and further increasing economic development.
I-294/I-57 Interchange
The Illinois Tollway opened the highly anticipated I-294/I-57 Interchange – creating a vital connection between two major interstates in the Chicago Southland in 2014.
For the first time, the new I-294/I-57 Interchange provided motorists with access between I-294 and I-57 and at 147th Street. It created access from northbound I-57 to northbound I-294 and southbound I-294 to southbound I-57, including a new interchange at 147th Street. In 2023 full access was completed between the two interstates with the addition of ramps carrying traffic to and from Chicago.
The enhanced interchange has reduced congestion on local roads and improves regional mobility to better serve commuters and freight operators while also opening access for local communities. Learn more about the economic impact benefits this interchange has created to grow local development that is increasing local retail and industrial activity and opportunities for jobs for the region.
