CHICAGO — For Chicagoans navigating the congestion on the Kennedy Expressway to O'Hare International Airport, the long-awaited moment of relief is finally here. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced that starting June 1, 2025, drivers will once again be able to access the airport via the express lanes that have been closed since March for a major overhaul. This step, restoring convenience for thousands of passengers and drivers, is only part of an ambitious $169 million project aimed at upgrading one of the city's busiest arteries. However, with budget overruns and construction delays extending into the end of the year, Chicago's resilience will face yet another test, as the road to progress—like the road to O'Hare—is rarely free of potholes.
Much-Awaited Return of the Exit
The Kennedy Expressway, pulsing as the main artery of Chicago's transport network, has been a source of frustration for drivers since March when construction closed the exit to O'Hare. Detours, traffic jams, and lost time became routine for passengers rushing to catch flights and freight drivers delivering cargo. “It was like running a gauntlet, only without a finish line,” jokes Maria Hernandez, a taxi driver who navigates this route daily.
The opening of the exit on June 1, announced by IDOT on May 28, restores some normalcy. Drivers will be able to exit directly onto O'Hare terminals from the express lanes, bypassing the maze of detours. “It's a small victory, but in Chicago, we value every one,” comments Jason Kravetz, a local logistics specialist coordinating airport transfers. According to IDOT, this move is expected to cut travel time by 10-15 minutes during rush hours, which is significant for one of the busiest airports in the world, serving over 74 million passengers in 2024.
A Project That Tests Patience
The Kennedy reconstruction, launched in March 2025, is more than a cosmetic facelift. Covering the stretch from Ohio Street to Edens Expressway, the project involves reducing lanes from four to two, replacing outdated infrastructure, and strengthening bridges. IDOT states that the goal is to enhance safety, reduce maintenance costs, and improve traffic flow on a highway that carries up to 300,000 vehicles daily. “We are building a road that will last for decades,” said an IDOT spokesperson at a January briefing.
However, the path to this goal has been thorny. The initial $150 million budget has risen to $169 million due to unforeseen issues: additional pothole repairs and defects in the internal concrete wiring requiring urgent intervention. “It's like repairing an old house—you open a wall, and there’s a surprise,” explains an IDOT insider familiar with the project. Critics, including local activist Tim Novak, accuse authorities of poor planning. “A $19 million budget overrun? That’s no small matter; that’s our tax money,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The work, expected to last at least until Thanksgiving 2025, has already caused discontent. Lane reductions have led to traffic jams stretching for hours, especially near the I-90 interchange. Drivers complain about disorganized signage: “Signs change every week, nobody knows where to go,” says Anna Kowalski, a resident of Logan Square. On X, Chicagoans joke that “Kennedy is now officially a endurance sport.”
Chicago in Motion
Despite the inconveniences, the reopening of the O'Hare exit is a ray of hope for a city that lives in the rhythm of movement. Chicago, recently ranked among the top five summer destinations in the U.S. by Tripadvisor, heavily relies on O'Hare as a gateway to the world. An airport generating billions for Illinois's economy needs seamless connections, and the partial reopening of Kennedy marks a step in this direction. “Everyone flying into or out of Chicago will feel the difference,” notes Lynn Osmond, director of Choose Chicago.
Mayor Brandon Johnson, who has faced criticism over transit issues, described the reopening as “proof that we are moving forward.” However, he acknowledges that there are still months of work ahead. IDOT plans to complete the main phase by November, but minor finishing touches could stretch into the end of the year. “We ask for patience but promise results,” assures the department.
Looking to the Future
The Kennedy reconstruction is more than road repair; it’s an investment in Chicago’s future, a city that’s always on the move. Improvements in safety, such as new barriers and updated bridges, aim to reduce the number of accidents that claim dozens of lives annually on this highway. Optimizing traffic flow could also reduce CO₂ emissions, aligning with state environmental goals. Yet, for drivers enduring daily traffic jams, these benefits often seem distant.
