Skip to content
STV
  • Our Work
    • MarketsThe infrastructure that powers our lives.
    • ServicesWe work harder so our solutions work better.
    • Infrastructure ReimaginedHow STV is shaping the future.
    • PortfolioProjects that are making communities better.
    • Infrastructure is economic development.

      Infrastructure is economic development.

      It helps create a better quality of life and more opportunities for communities.

  • About Us
    • How We WorkWe understand. We serve. We collaborate.
    • Where We Are60+ offices across North America.
    • What We BelieveMaking communities better with integrity, partnership and optimism.
    • How We Got HereGenerational impact for over a century.
    • We’re here to improve communities.

      We’re here to improve communities.

      Our sense of purpose drives us.

  • Careers
    • Make a Positive Impact on Your Local CommunityJoin us to create the future you want.
    • Life at STVWe are a team.
    • Job ListingsFind the right opportunity for you.
    • Forget the career ladder.

      Forget the career ladder.

      At STV, your career path grows around you.

  • Insights
    • Thought LeadershipFirst-person perspectives and reflections from our team.
    • Industry ExpertiseDeep dives for projects that makes communities better.
    • Project ExcellenceHow our work is shaping the trends moving the industry.
    • We have an eye on the future.

      We have an eye on the future.

      Learn what's next in the industry.

  • News & Events
    • NewsRead our timely news and latest stories.
    • EventsConnect with us at industry events in your community.
    • We're on the move.

      We're on the move.

      See what's happening at STV.

  • Contact Us

Deep Dives

Transforming Access to O’Hare with Illinois Tollway Project

Published

March 14, 2025

Transforming Access to O’Hare with Illinois Tollway Project
Six bridges crossing York Road, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Union Pacific Railroad and I-490

STV’s Chicago team has officially begun its construction management (CM) and construction inspection (CI) work in support of the I-490/IL 390 Interchange Project, a key component of the Illinois Tollway’s Elgin O’Hare Western Access Project to connect I-90, IL 390 and I-294 via construction of the new I-490 Tollway. This ambitious initiative aims to revolutionize travel in Chicago’s western suburbs by addressing long-standing transportation bottlenecks and, for the first time, providing direct western access to O’Hare International Airport property.

“At its core, this project is about improving connectivity and delivering meaningful benefits to travelers,” said Gregory Ferraro, PE, senior engineer at STV. “By creating a direct link to O’Hare from the west, we’re reducing travel times and congestion and providing a much-needed new option for motorists navigating the region.”

Elgin O’Hare Western Access Project

The new I-490 Tollway, a $2 billion investment, is a six-mile corridor connecting I-294 (the Tri-State Tollway) in Franklin Park at its southern end to I-90 (the Jane Addams Tollway) in Des Plaines at its northern terminus. Running along the western edge of O’Hare, the I-490 corridor will feature connections to York Road, Irving Park Road, the Illinois Route 390 Tollway and the airport itself.

At the heart of this initiative is the construction of a full-access interchange between the new I-490 Tollway and IL 390. This $534 million interchange includes 16 ramps, 15 bridges and three miles of mainline roadway, delivering unprecedented mobility on O’Hare’s west side.

STV is providing CM and CI services for six interchange ramps and bridges of this interchange, which entered construction in November 2024. These include four new flyover ramps connecting the Illinois Route 390 and I-490 Tollways, as well as two new bridges providing direct access to O’Hare’s western edge. The project also involves earthwork, drainage improvements and retaining wall installations.

The construction process presents unique challenges, as the six new structures are crossing York Road and two active freight rail lines – Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and Union Pacific (UP) – which run parallel to the I-490 corridor. STV is coordinating construction activities among multiple stakeholders, including the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways (CCDoTH), DuPage County Division of Transportation (DuDOT) and the railroads. Construction activities are carefully scheduled to align with less active periods on the rail lines and are paused when trains are in operation, adding to the project’s complexity.

The I-490/IL 390 Interchange Project moved into construction in 2019 and has required extensive coordination for permitting, railroad agreements and airspace rights. The most recent milestone clearing the way for construction progress was the approval to lift aviation approach lighting near O’Hare, where six east-west runways end close to the new tollway. The interchange is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027.

Once finished, the new I-490 Tollway will reshape transportation around O’Hare and beyond. By addressing critical bottlenecks, reducing congestion and introducing direct western access to O’Hare, the project will save travelers significant time and effort.

Six bridges crossing York Road, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Union Pacific Railroad and I-490
CEI chicago construction engineering construction management Engineering highways illinois interchange O'Hare International Airport roadways

Featured

Related News & Insights

View of Chicago city street showcasing elevated rail service and city bus.

Future Focused

Transitioning to Zero Emissions: Chicago Region’s Public Transit Agencies Collaborate for a Sustainable Future

Austin city skyline

Deep Dives

Breaking Ground on a Groundbreaking Project: STV Serves as Prime Schematic Engineer and Environmental Consultants on Historic I-35 North in Austin

Betsy Ross Interchange

Deep Dives

Building a Better Mousetrap: The Country’s First Steel Curved Tubular Flange Girder

  • Privacy Policy
  • STV Logo
  • Sitemap
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright 2025 © STV Incorporated. All rights reserved.