Airport Road & IL Route 126 / I-55 Interchange Study

V3 is providing Phase I engineering services in accordance with NEPA requirements for interchange improvements on the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) between the US Route 30 and Weber Road interchanges. Currently, the only interchange within this six-mile stretch of I-55 is a partial interchange at IL 126 which consists of a northbound on-ramp and a southbound off-ramp.

Study limits include 3.5 miles of I-55, one mile of Airport / Lockport Road, one mile of IL Route 126, a half mile of Essington Road and a half mile of 135th Street.

The project includes intersection design studies for eight intersections and interchange design studies for two interchange locations.

The preferred build alternative includes a new full access interchange at Airport Road and a reconfigured interchange at IL 126 providing full access.

The corridor also includes Section 4(f) properties as well as other sensitive environmental issues involving noise, water quality, flooding, wetlands, special waste and traffic impacts which are being documented in an environmental assessment.

V3 also conducted bridge condition evaluations for three structures: two that cross the expressway and one that traverses Lily Cache Creek, for which V3 also performed a hydraulic analysis to design the waterway opening for the creek under Lockport Road.

Phase I engineering services also include the preparation of a combined design report, interchange type study, updated access justification report and location drainage study.

The project also features an extensive public involvement program which follows the principles of IDOT Context Sensitive Solutions procedures. To date, this program has included a stakeholder involvement plan, community context audit report, three public meetings, six community advisory group meetings, a project website and local government official briefings.