Overview
Each day hundreds of thousands of people travel the Dan
Ryan Expressway, the city's major transportation artery
from downtown Chicago through the heart of the city's
South Side. The Dan Ryan is currently the busiest expressway
in the Chicago area and also has the highest accident
rate. Committed to the safety of the traveling public,
the Illinois Department of Transportation will be reconstruction
the Dan Ryan Expressway beginning in 2004 and continuing
through 2007.
Facts about the Dan Ryan:
- First designed and built from 1961-1963.
- In 1963, each day just over 150,000 vehicles traveled
on this roadway.
- Today traffic has more than doubled to 300,000 vehicles
traveling the expressway daily
- From 1998-2000, over 8,200 accidents occurred, causing
27 deaths and 1800 injuries.
- After 40 years, the road has surpassed its intended
design life by more than 20 years.
The Need for Reconstruction:
- To reduce accident rates
- To relieve congestion
- To rebuild deteriorating pavement
- To eliminate flooding
- To improve Skyway interchange
Benefits to the Local Community:
- Reconstruction of local access roads between 47th
& 63rd Streets
- Synchronized timing of traffic lights
- Addition of designated turn lanes at 55th and 67th
- Improved curb design on local access roads
- Improved pedestrian accommodations surrounding CTA
stations
- Beautify local access road with landscaping
Major Improvements to the Dan Ryan:
- State-of-the-art design will greatly improve travel
safety, eliminate traffic bottlenecks and reduce congestion.
- All lanes of traffic will be completely reconstructed
for improved travel conditions from 31st Street south
to I-57.
- Additional local lane in each direction from 47th
- 63rd.
- Additional lane in each direction from 67th - 95th.
- Full interchange created at 47th Street by adding
northbound exit to 47th street and southbound entrance
from 47th.
- Additional updated highway lighting and overhead
message signs.
- Enhanced sewers to correct drainage problems and
reduce flooding on the expressway.
- Ramps reconfigured to improve traffic merges and
reduce weaving in traffic, both major causes of accidents
on the roadway.
- Higher barrier walls along the CTA to prevent cars
from going on to the tracks.
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