Renewed push for Lee Street tollway exit in Des Plaines
More than two years since talk surfaced about a possible eastbound Lee Street exit on the Jane Addams Tollway, some Des Plaines and Rosemont officials are making a renewed push for it, saying it would be an economic boon for the area.
And Illinois Tollway officials said this week it's not too late to add the ramp, even though work was completed last year on a $17 million reconstruction of the Lee Street bridge and two ramps that carry vehicles to and from the east.
"The tollway's reconstruction of the Lee Street bridge is sufficient to accommodate a new eastbound exit ramp if an agreement is reached in the future to build one," said Dan Rozek, a tollway spokesman.
Tollway officials say they're supportive of the project and are willing to cover half the estimated $8 million to $10 million cost, but it's up to Rosemont, Des Plaines, Chicago and the Illinois Department of Transportation to divide up the rest of the tab.
Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens, one of the original supporters of the off-ramp, said he will reach out to Des Plaines officials to try to come to an agreement on splitting the costs of the local share. Rosemont, he says, "has been willing to pay a few extra bucks to see this happen."
Des Plaines Alderman Malcolm Chester expressed his support for the project at a city council meeting this week after a recent trip to Springfield to talk to state officials about issues affecting Des Plaines.
"Rosemont has apparently offered two to three times the amount we'd be required to put forward," Chester said Monday. "But my information down there - and I need clarification on this - is we have not so far participated, which upsets me quite a bit.
"I do hope the administration will look at this and pursue it. I think it's a very high priority."
Aldermen Dick Sayad and Jack Robinson also reiterated their support. Both were among the attendees of a public meeting in April 2014, hosted by state Rep. Marty Moylan, about the potential for an eastbound Lee Street exit.
Supporters say the off-ramp would give drivers easier access to the Allstate Arena, Rivers Casino and O'Hare International Airport and would help spur economic development.
"It's an economic boon to the city," Robinson said.
City Manager Mike Bartholomew said he hadn't heard anything about the issue in a year and a half, but he would look into it and get back to the city council. In 2014, he said plans for the project weren't completed and there weren't firm cost numbers.
Mayor Matt Bogusz didn't attend this week's council meeting and didn't respond to a request for comment.
Stephens said if a cost-sharing agreement can be reached, a strip of land from the Chicago Department of Aviation would still be needed.
He said there's been a lot of "moving parts" in trying to reach an agreement, because five different governmental agencies are involved.
If a deal can be struck in a reasonable amount of time, he said, the ramp could be completed by the end of 2017.