Kennedy Expressway

:This article is about a road in Illinois. For the expressway in New York City, serving JFK Airport, see JFK Expressway.

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.

Related Topics:
Chicago Transit Authority - Illinois State Route 19 - 1984 - Light rail - Rail line - Dan Ryan Expressway - Eisenhower Expressway

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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 2 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 (although these times vary and under unusual circumstances controllers will override the usual pattern).

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The final distinct feature are the last two miles -- there are 9 exits in 2 miles along mileposts 50 and 51, and the southbound exit to Interstate 290 and Congress Parkway is marked as exits 51H and I. While the density of interchanges is quite dangerous, 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 (70 km/h) in this area.

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