If you spent any time on the Kennedy between 2023 and 2025, you already know. The orange barrels. The lane shifts at midnight. The special rage that only comes from merging near Addison in a construction zone. The good news is that the main rehab project is done. The complicated news is that 2026 still has a few things going on out there. Here's what's actually happening on the I-90/94 Kennedy Expressway corridor heading into 2026 — verified, no guessing.
The $169 Million Kennedy Rehab: What Just Wrapped Up
The Illinois Department of Transportation completed its three-year, $169 million Kennedy Expressway rehabilitation on October 24, 2025 — a full month ahead of the original Thanksgiving deadline. Governor JB Pritzker and IDOT Secretary Gia Biagi marked the occasion with what amounted to a very polite victory lap on the expressway shoulder. The project covered the stretch from Ohio Street to the Edens Expressway (I-94) junction and was broken into three construction seasons:
2023: Inbound lane repairs
2024: Reversible express lanes and gate system modernization
2025: Outbound lane refurbishment
By the numbers, the completed work included:
36 bridges rehabilitated — structures that were over 50 years old
7.5 miles of deteriorated pavement replaced, including 24 exit and entrance ramps
1,200 new LED light fixtures installed along the corridor
16 new overhead sign structures added or replaced
2,200+ trees and shrubs planted throughout the corridor
1 million square feet of high-performance latex concrete poured
Modernization of the reversible lane gate system, which had long exceeded its intended lifespan
Approximately 90% of the funding came from the federal government. The remaining 10% came from the state, primarily for pavement patching. The project was originally estimated at $150 million but ballooned to $169 million. A final cost figure has not been publicly released. If you spot pavement issues on the freshly resurfaced stretch, reporting a pothole to Cook County is straightforward — though response times are another story. The Kennedy Expressway handles more than 275,000 vehicles per day, making it the second-busiest expressway in Chicago behind the Dan Ryan.
What's Still Under Construction in 2026
The main rehab is finished. Your mainline lanes are open. But don't put the Waze away just yet. Ohio and Ontario Street feeder ramps remain under construction heading into 2026. According to IDOT, this work is part of an unrelated project and is expected to continue through summer 2026. Two lanes remain open in each direction between Orleans Street and the Kennedy, but expect periodic delays in that area. Additionally, drivers should be aware of:
Occasional overnight and weekend lane closures for punch-list items, including final lane striping and sign installation from the main rehab
Flaggers and equipment still present in work zones near the ramp construction areas
Posted speed limit reductions near active work zones
If your commute takes you through the Ohio/Ontario corridor downtown, build in extra time through at least the end of summer. Construction zones and Chicago weather are a terrible combination, so brush up on winter driving basics if you haven't already.
How the Kennedy Construction Affects Chicago Commuters
The Kennedy Expressway is not just a road. It's the main artery between O'Hare International Airport and downtown Chicago, and it carries a staggering volume of freight, commuter, and tourist traffic every single day. During the three years of active construction, Chicagoland drivers dealt with:
Two-lane closures each construction season from spring through fall
19 ramp closures during the 2025 phase alone, with varying durations
Significant backups on parallel routes like Cicero Avenue, Pulaski Road, and the Edens Expressway
Now that the mainline is fully reopened, commute times have improved substantially. But the remaining Ohio/Ontario ramp work means downtown-adjacent drivers will continue to deal with some congestion through mid-2026. IDOT has encouraged drivers to use alternate routes when possible and to pay close attention to signage in remaining work zones. If you're commuting in from Aurora or the far west suburbs, I-88 remains the more predictable route until the ramp work wraps up.
I-90 Jane Addams Tollway Work Heading Into 2026
The Kennedy isn't the only stretch of I-90 that saw construction recently. The Illinois Tollway completed roadway and bridge repair work along the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) in 2025. That project included:
Pavement and bridge repairs between Randall Road and Rockton Road
Improvements to local crossroad bridges in Boone, Kane, McHenry, and Winnebago Counties
Repairs to the Belvidere Road, Harlem Road, Spring Creek Road, Rote Road, and Rockton Road bridges carrying traffic over I-90
Repair work on the U.S. Route 20 Interchange ramp bridges over I-90
Some minor work is scheduled for spring 2026, but the Illinois Tollway has indicated it will have minimal to no impact on traffic. So if you're heading northwest on I-90 past O'Hare, you should be in relatively clear shape. Just make sure you've settled any missed tolls from the construction detours before they turn into violations.
What's Next for Chicago Expressway Infrastructure
The Kennedy rehab was part of Governor Pritzker's Rebuild Illinois capital program — a $33.2 billion investment in the state's transportation infrastructure passed in 2019. It is the largest capital program in Illinois history. Over the next six years, IDOT is planning to improve:
More than 7,100 lane miles of highway
Nearly 8.4 million square feet of bridge deck
Through the first six years of Rebuild Illinois, the state has invested almost $20.8 billion in improvements statewide, touching 21,309 lane miles of highway, 815 bridges, and 1,181 additional safety improvements. For 2026 specifically, the FY 2026 Annual Highway Improvement Program totals $6.36 billion, with plans to improve or construct 1,102 miles of highways and 213 bridges statewide. The Kennedy is done. The ramps will wrap up by summer. And if you're wondering whether there will be another major expressway project to complain about soon — this is Chicago. You already know the answer.
Last updated: March 2026. Information sourced from IDOT, the Governor's Office, and verified news reporting from CBS Chicago, NBC Chicago, ABC7, and WGN.
