O'Hare road work finishing early

Drivers who reach the outskirts of O'Hare International Airport in good time only to be frustrated by construction traffic can take heart.

Bridge and road repairs on I-190 over Bessie Coleman Drive are finishing several days ahead of schedule, Chicago Department of Aviation officials said. That means the I-190 westbound on-ramp at Mannheim Road and left lane of the westbound expressway will reopen this weekend after being closed since April.

Some temporary lane closures are expected to continue on Bessie Coleman Drive through June.

Airport officials also anticipate an early end to construction of a 3,000-foot extension to an existing 10,000-foot runway on the south side of the airfield.

Work on the project should wrap up Sept. 25, two months ahead of the expected completion date.

"The significance for passengers is that it gives us flexibility for starting and completing our other projects," said O'Hare Modernization Program director of public affairs Roderick Drew.

The city is expected to open a new 7,500-foot runway on O'Hare's north end Nov. 20.