West Cook News

Cook County’s Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH), along with federal, state, and local officials, has started construction on a major road project in the Villages of Franklin Park and Bensenville. The $36.7 million initiative aims to improve travel for residents and businesses near the Franklin Avenue/Green Street corridor, providing better connections to the Canadian Pacific/Kansas City railyard and O’Hare International Airport.

The project is a collaboration between Cook County, DuPage County, the Illinois Tollway, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), and the Villages of Bensenville and Franklin Park. Cook County is leading construction efforts, offering funding and technical support while coordinating with partner agencies. The county secured $27.1 million from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program.

“This project was truly a team effort, combining the resources of local, state and federal governments to ensure its success,” said President Preckwinkle. “Motorists will be able to travel more efficiently through this area and businesses will benefit from better access to the nearby intermodal yard.”

Plans include reconstructing 1.8 miles of roadway by expanding it from two lanes to five lanes. New facilities for pedestrians and cyclists will be added, along with updated lighting and drainage systems. The improvements are expected to increase mobility within a busy commercial and industrial area and enhance regional access once the Illinois Tollway I-490 project is finished.

“These local road improvements on Franklin Avenue and Green Street led by Cook County are critical to the delivery of the Illinois Tollway’s new Franklin Avenue Interchange providing direct access to both the future I-490 Tollway and the Tri-State Tollway (I-294),” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “The strong partnership between the County and the Tollway, as well as with the Villages of Franklin Park and Bensenville, will ensure enhanced mobility and improved access for businesses, freight and commuters in this key transportation corridor.”

The project is designed to attract private investment, create jobs, reduce congestion on local roads, and cut down on unnecessary travel routes. Construction is scheduled for completion by 2027. Drivers are advised to plan ahead for delays in this area due to ongoing work.

A map showing DoTH’s 2025 highway construction projects can be found at www.cookcountyil.gov/service/highway-construction-projects.