Kingery Expressway

infobox road
highway_name = Kingery Expressway
marker_

alternate_name =
length = 3 miles (5 km)
direction = East-west
starting_terminus =
established = 1953
ending_terminus = Indiana state line east of Lansing
cities = None
system = Interstate highway system


Westbound Kingery Expressway in Lansing.The Robert Kingery Expressway, formerly called the Tri-State Highway, is a three-mile-long (5 km), eight-lane expressway in northeastern Illinois. It carries Interstates 80 and 94 from the Illinois/Indiana border at the Borman Expressway west to Illinois Route 394, Interstate 294 (the Tri-State Tollway), and the southern end of the Bishop Ford Freeway (where Interstate 94 turns north to downtown Chicago). It also carries U.S. Highway 6 west from the Indiana state line to the U.S. 6 exit with Illinois Route 83 (Torrence Avenue).

The highway was renamed the Kingery Expressway in 1953, two years after the death of Robert Kingery. He was a former director of the Illinois Public Works, a regional director for the Chicago Regional Planning Association, as well as a proponent of the current northeastern Illinois tollway configuration until his death in 1951. However, only rarely do locals call it "The Kingery" like other named expressways (Ryan, Eisenhower, Stevenson, etc.), it is just called "80/94"

It should not be confused with the Kingery Highway, which is Illinois 83 in DuPage County. The Kingery Highway is a north-south six-lane divided highway that runs up and down the length of the eastern part of the county.

The Kingery Expressway was built in 1950, and was rebuilt in 2005-2007 to add traffic lanes and better accommodate the large amount of truck traffic that travels between Chicago and all points east and southeast. Construction was completed in July, 2007. [cite web |url=http://www.kingeryexpressway.com/press/r062907.html |author=Illinois Department of Transportation |date=2007-06-28 |accessdate=2007-07-03 |title=Independence from roadwork along new Kingery Expressway and modernized Southland Corridor marks July 4th holiday week] Among the improvements is the separation of traffic heading to the Bishop Ford Freeway and Torrence Avenue, with the westbound split for the Bishop Ford east of Torrence near Burnham Avenue, and an eastbound collector-distributor lane allowing a right hand exit from either I-80 or I-94 eastbound to Torrence without having to cross expressway through lanes. [cite web |url=http://kingeryexpressway.com/pdf/Kingery-Flyer-12.8.06.pdf |title=Special Advisory for Drivers who use westbound I-80/94 |date=2006-12-08 |accessdate=2007-07-03 |author=Illinois Department of Transportation] The Southland Interchange with the Bishop Ford Freeway, Illinois 394, and the Tri-State Tollway was also rebuilt and reconfigured.

Emergency Traffic Patrol (IDOT Minutemen)

All portions of the Kingery expressway (I-80/94) between Interstate 294 and US 41/Calumet avenue are patrolled by the Illinois State Police (Indiana State Patrol have jurisdiction east of the state line & Hoosier Helpers provide emergency roadside assistance on the Borman Expressway from Calumet avenue/US 41 eastward) and the IDOT Emergency Traffic Patrol (IDOT ETP "Minutemen"). The ETP patrol 24/7/365 and can be recognized by their large bright yellow-green wreckers and orange jumpsuits. They can be reached at *999 via cellphone and respond to all manner of expressway incidents that you may be involved in from flat tires and no gas to major crashes. They are direct state employees and all of their services are free of charge (gasoline nominal mail-in charge). If your vehicle is disabled, attempt to pull immediately to the shoulder, place your hazard lights on and STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE until ETP arrival! If your vehicle stalls in a live lane of traffic and you are unable to coast to the shoulder, immediately place your hazard lights on, dial 911 (especially if traffic is moving at high speeds) and *999 if you have a cell phone and inform the operator that you are stalled in an interstate traffic lane; and brace for a possible high-speed rear end collision, but remain in your vehicle! An ETP vehicle wil arrive within twenty minutes (much sooner if you are in a lane). Never walk on or cross the Kingery Expressway on foot! Also, never accept unsolicited help from a private towing company. These companies often attempt to illegally prey on vulnerable motorists and charge exorbitant rates. If you have a motor club, call them. But DO allow the ETP driver to fix your issue or relocate your vehicle to a safe spot off the interstate. The ETP and/or state trooper can provide you with a list of reputable towing companies.

Exit list

See Interstate 80 in Illinois.

External links

* [http://chicagobase.lib.uic.edu/website/Atlas%20Overview/atlas_4.htm Interactive Regional Highway Atlas]

References