JFK Expressway

JFK Expressway. The JFK Expressway is a short but vital auxiliary Interstate Highway in Chicago, Illinois, designated as Interstate 190 (I-190). It serves as the primary vehicular access route connecting the massive O'Hare International Airport to the broader Chicago metropolitan area via the Kennedy Expressway. Officially named in memory of President John F. Kennedy, the roadway is a critical conduit for airport traffic, handling millions of passengers and substantial freight annually.

Route description

The expressway begins at a complex interchange on the western grounds of O'Hare International Airport, near the terminals and rental car facilities. It travels eastward through portions of the suburbs of Rosemont and Schiller Park, passing near major commercial developments like the Rosemont Theatre and the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. The route is entirely within Cook County and functions as a controlled-access highway with multiple lanes in each direction. Its eastern terminus is a direct merge with the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and the mainline Kennedy Expressway (I-90/I-94), providing seamless access to downtown Chicago and the wider Interstate Highway System. The roadway is maintained by the Illinois Department of Transportation and features standard Interstate Highway signage.

History

Planning for the expressway commenced in the late 1950s alongside the rapid expansion of O'Hare International Airport, which was being transformed from Orchard Place Airport into a major global aviation hub. Construction was completed and the highway opened to traffic in 1960, initially designated as part of the Illinois State Highway system. Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation to rename the roadway in his honor, a measure signed by Governor Otto Kerner Jr.. The route was subsequently incorporated into the Interstate Highway System with the I-190 designation. Over the decades, it has undergone several major reconstruction projects to accommodate increasing traffic volumes from the airport, including significant work in the 1990s and early 2000s coordinated by the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Chicago Department of Aviation.

Major intersections

The entire route is in Cook County. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Location ! mi ! km ! Destinations ! Notes |- | O'Hare International Airport | 0.00 | 0.00 | Airport terminals, rental car facilities | Western terminus |- | Rosemont | 0.50 | 0.80 | Mannheim Road (IL 171) | Interchange |- | Schiller Park | 2.50 | 4.02 | Tri-State Tollway (I-294) – Milwaukee, Indiana | Interchange; I-294 exit 46 |- | rowspan="2" | Chicago | rowspan="2" | 3.07 | rowspan="2" | 4.94 | Kennedy Expressway (I-90 / I-94) – Downtown | Eastern terminus; I-90/I-94 exit 78 |- | I-90 east / I-94 east – Indiana Toll Road | Continuation beyond I-190 terminus |}

Exit list

The entire route is in Cook County. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Location ! mi ! km ! Exit ! Destinations ! Notes |- | rowspan="2" | O'Hare International Airport | rowspan="2" | 0.00 | rowspan="2" | 0.00 | rowspan="2" | — | Airport terminals | Western terminus; access to Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, Terminal 5 |- | Rental car facilities | Access via service roads |- | Rosemont | 0.50 | 0.80 | 1 | Mannheim Road (IL 171) – Rosemont Theatre, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center | Signed as exits 1A (south) and 1B (north) |- | Schiller Park | 2.50 | 4.02 | 2 | Tri-State Tollway (I-294) – Milwaukee, Indiana | I-294 exit 46; signed as exits 2A (south) and 2B (north) |- | Chicago | 3.07 | 4.94 | — | Kennedy Expressway (I-90 / I-94) – Downtown | Eastern terminus; I-90/I-94 exit 78; roadway continues as I-90/I-94 |} Category:Interstate Highways in Illinois Category:Transportation in Chicago Category:John F. Kennedy