Wacker Drive Construction Is On Schedule And Under Budget
By Samantha Abernethy in News on Oct 5, 2012 9:05PM
Officials say our long downtown construction nightmare on Wacker will be over in December. During a tour of the construction site, workers and Gov. Pat Quinn announced the project is on schedule and under budget after more than two years and $303 million.
It’s a noticeable improvement to the former ramp, which, as with many ramps was above ground and had drivers anxiously honking and speeding their way into merged lanes.“I think drivers are going to notice the lighting and the much wider road,” Chicago Department of Transportation project manager Tony Albert said. “It’s going to be a lot easier going from Lower Wacker south to westbound 290.”
“You want to get through Chicago, take Lower Wacker and tell your neighbor how to do it,” Quinn said, calling it the "eighth wonder of the world." The state has $47 million left, but it's not clear where that money will go.
There will be fewer access points between Upper and Lower, and the whole Congressway Interchange will be simpler. ABC7 writes:
Part of Lower Wacker will ultimately be the new entrance ramp to the outbound Eisenhower. It's wider, about a foot taller and better lit. In fact, the entire Franklin/Wacker/Eisenhower interchange will be safer."When you're coming off of Lower Wacker heading westbound on Congress, you'll have a dedicated lane so that it will be easier to merge on there and not be butting into traffic," said Dan Gross, Wacker Drive resident engineer.
The area above that interchange will be 34 acres of green space: two parks on either side of Congress and a dog park on the northwest corner.