First Phase of I-90 Construction Nearing Completion

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Tollway is opening three lanes of roadway in each direction between Rockford and Elgin as part of a $2.5 billion rebuilding project.

Gov. Pat Quinn announced the development Tuesday. Officials say the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway — also known as Interstate 90 — will be a state-of-the-art road from Interstate 294 to Interstate 39.

The first phase of the project is near completion. Thirty-seven miles of road have been rebuilt and widened to three lanes in each direction.

Construction of the segment from Randall Road in Elgin to I-294 should be complete by the end of 2016.

Authorities say more than 8,000 jobs have been created or sustained as part of the 62-mile project in northern Illinois.

The Addams Tollway is 56 years old.