Rosemont village board approves Balmoral off-ramp

The Rosemont Village Board today unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Tollway Authority to build an off-ramp on the northbound Tri-State Tollway at Balmoral Avenue.

The deal was approved by the Tollway board last month. Under the plan, Rosemont will fund the $25 million project and then recoup up to half its costs from toll revenues over the next 25 years.

Construction is expected to begin during the first week of May. Once the new off-ramp is completed, motorists will have an alternative to the congested River Road/O’Hare exit just to the north, used by 16.5 million vehicles every year. The new ramp will offer faster, more convenient access to Rosemont’s Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont Theatre and dozens of hotels.

The Balmoral exit is primarily being built to provide easier access to The Park at Rosemont entertainment district under construction. Presently anchored by Muvico, it will be home to Toby Keith’s “I Love This Bar & Grill,” King’s Bowling Center, and Lansdowne Irish Pub. The development includes 200,000 square feet of entertainment, dining and festival space, with a recreational area in the center where the village will host year-round programming including ice skating, farmers’ markets, concerts, fairs, festivals and exhibition sporting events.