Elmhurst Road Reconstruction & Interchange Redesign
Location: Des Plaines, IL
Year Completed: 2018
In 2011, the Illinois Tollway Board of Directors approved the 15-year, $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. The Elmhurst Road Interchange at the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) was a crucial part of the reconstruction project. The lack of a full access interchange (i.e. existing interchange accommodated movements to and from the east only) was identified by stakeholders during the Phase I process as a critical transportation issue within the project study area that should be addressed. As such, construction of a full access interchange was proposed and planned for construction. Leon Kraut led Lochmueller Group as the Lead Partner in a Joint Venture for the Elmhurst Interchange project that included the Elmhurst Road and I-90 service interchange and segments north and south of the interchange along Elmhurst Road. The project extended from the southern terminus on Elmhurst Road south of the Landmeier Road intersection to the northern terminus beyond the Oakton Street and Elmhurst Road intersection, a distance of 1.09 miles. Most of the project lies within the City of Des Plaines, with parts within Elk Grove Village and the Village of Mount Prospect. Leon’s team provided overall management, coordination and quality assurance and quality control as well as roadway design and structural engineering. Subconsultants performed geotechnical subsurface investigations, drainage and erosion control, lighting, environmental, utility coordination, and traffic signal design. Leon worked with the subconsultants to reduce costs by eliminating 5 of 40 right-of-way parcels through coordination, redesign, and changes to the concept. The improvements included widening Elmhurst Road to an urban 6-lane facility from Landmeier Road to Oakton Street. The remainder of the improvements consisted of full reconstruction through the interchange influence area and at the Elmhurst Road/Oakton Street intersection and the Elmhurst Road/Landmeier intersection. The Elmhurst Road and I-90 interchange improvements consisted of reconstructing and replacing the partial-access interchange with a new full-service interchange—a double crossover diamond (DCD) interchange, formerly known as the diverging diamond interchange—with new dual structures carrying Elmhurst Road over I-90. This new configuration allowed for two-phase operation at all signalized intersections within the interchange. This was a significant improvement in safety, since no left turns must clear opposing traffic and all movements are discrete, with most controlled by traffic signals. Staged construction was incorporated and access to Elmhurst Road was maintained. The dual structures carrying Elmhurst Road over I-90 are both 305 feet in length and have widths of 54 and 65 feet. The bridges are symmetrical two spans (152.5’;152.5’). In addition to the three 14-foot-wide travel lanes, the bridges carry a 5-foot sidewalk and a 10-foot-wide multi-use path. The bridge superstructure consists of 67-inch-deep web plate girders spaced at 9-foot, 3-inch and 9-foot, 7-inch beam spacings. The superstructures are placed on pile supported concrete piers and integral abutments. The integral abutments are located behind MSE walls approaching 20 feet in height and 270 feet in length. In addition to the cross over bridge, Leon’s team was responsible for a new structure carrying the widened Elmhurst Road over Higgins Creek north of the Elmhurst Road interchange. The current Higgins Creek structure did not meet hydraulic requirements. The existing structure was 28 ft. back to back and was subject to overtopping. In order to maintain the existing profile, the new structure provided a design variance for a 50-year high water event. The bridge is a precast prestressed beam bridge with one closed abutment and one integral spill through abutment. The length of the structure is 53 ft. 2 in. back to back and 113 ft. 2 in. in width. The maintenance of traffic and creek stabilization were integral to the design of the structure. Leon’s team also designed seven retaining walls at various locations. Based on proposed traffic demand and turning lane configurations, single-lane toll collection facilities are required for the new eastbound exit ramp and westbound entrance ramp at the Elmhurst Road/I-90 interchange. Through IDOT direction, intersection improvements were provided at Elmhurst Road and Oakton Street that includes reconstructing the intersection to accommodate dual left turns on all four approaches, and the construction of barrier and mountable-type raised medians. Access control measures were incorporated with raised barrier medians and directional left-turn openings. Staged construction was utilized and access to Elmhurst Road was maintained. A closed drainage system was implemented along Elmhurst Road and at the Oakton Street and Landmeier Road intersections. A ditch system was recommended on the rural cross sections adopted on the proposed ramps, but where a proposed ramp was equipped with curb-and-gutter, a new storm sewer system was designed.
