Governor Quinn Kicks Off Construction of Tri-State Tollway and I-57 Interchange Ramp

Dixmoor Mayor Dorothy Armstrong with Gov. Pat Quinn at Sept. 5th girder signing event. Photo by Harvey S. Tillis

From ABC 7 News: Access to Posen from the Tri-State Tollway is expected to create an economic boon for the area, but some homeowners have lost their homes to the construction.

A major road construction project is well under way that will provide an economic windfall for the south suburbs: a long-awaited ramp to connect the Tri-State Tollway with I-57; and an interchange at 147th Street at the Tri-State.

Some residents in suburban Posen who have lost their homes because of the construction are not happy with the money the state is paying for them to move.

The project at Tri-state and I-57 has been decades in the making, and should be a huge convenience for motorists and an economic boon for the surrounding southern suburbs.

“And already mayors are telling me they’re getting interest from developers that they never had before because of this access,” Ed Paesel, South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, said…Please click here to view the full news story by Paul Meincke  on ABC 7 News.

From the Southtown Star: Apart from being a headache for drivers, the lack of an interchange linking Interstates 57 and 294 was something of a slap in the face to the Southland, a regional official said Thursday.

Before a ceremonial signing of the first beam for a ramp at the interchange Ed Paesel, executive director of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, said it “kind of sent a message to me the communities and people there really didn’t matter.”…Please click here to read Mike Nolan’s full story in the Southtown Star.  To view statements from Goovernor Quinn’s office, click the  press release.