Illinois Leaders Look At Illiana Expressway

Illinois transportation officials are looking at plans to build the Illiana Expressway, including a proposal to connect the proposed highway with I-55.

Reports the Chicago Tribune:

Tollway officials said they would work with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, which is developing the region's most comprehensive land-use and transportation plan to date, due in 2009.

The tollway's effort could ultimately benefit the agency if some of these highways become part of its system.

The action was prompted by a proposal last month from tollway board member James Roolf of Joliet to form an exploratory committee on the so-called Illiana Expressway.

The Illiana Expressway would bypass the heavily congested Northern Indiana-Chicago region by connecting Interstate Highway 65 with Interstate Highway 57.

Roolf suggested that the tollway become involved in the project and possibly extend the expressway all the way to Interstate Highway 55.