Cook County approves contract for Touhy Avenue reconstruction

The Cook County Board recently approved an $87.2 million contract to reconstruct a 1.5-mile stretch of Touhy Avenue between Elmhurst and Mount Prospect roads in Des Plaines.

The project entails construction of a grade separation of Touhy over the future I-490 and the Union Pacific Railroad. Work also includes intersection improvements at Touhy Avenue and Elmhurst Road as well as pavement reconstruction and a new shared use path for bicycles and pedestrians.

County officials say Touhy is an important link in the regional transportation network, as it serves as a major corridor for trucks, providing access to the largest industrial district in the Chicago area. The work also will improve access to the adjacent O’Hare International Airport, including the new northeast air cargo facility, remote parking and rental car facilities, officials said.