January 2026
Walsh Construction transforming I-294 Interchange to ease congestion and improve safety
Hillside, Illinois - Walsh Construction is leading the reconfiguration and reconstruction of the I-290/I-88 interchange at I-294, a critical connection in the Illinois Tollway system that serves more than 330,000 vehicles daily. The project is part of the $4 billion Illinois Tollway's Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) reconstruction project, a 22-mile corridor improvement that broke ground in 2020 and is scheduled to be completed in 2027.
The scope of work includes reconstructing 28 bridges, 19 ramps, widening two miles of mainline on I-294 and rehabilitating 1.5 miles on I-290 to widen the roads to six lanes. The project also includes the recent opening of a new fly-under ramp that replaced the existing loop ramp between northbound I-294 and westbound I-290. Located near the midpoint of the corridor, the interchange serves as a major connection between Chicago and the western and northeastern suburbs. Additional improvements include a new collector-distributor road on southbound I-294 at westbound I-88 to reduce weaving conflicts and increase traffic flow. Crews are utilizing innovative value-engineering and soil stabilization to overcome complex site constraints and material challenges to keep the project on schedule for 2027.
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