The Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) is one of the most important—and controversial—transportation projects in Chicago’s history. Built in the mid-20th century during the heyday of highway expansion, the expressway reshaped the city’s West Side, influencing urban planning, community development, and transportation patterns for generations.
Early Plans for a West Side Expressway
The idea of a highway cutting through Chicago’s West Side dates back to the 1920s.
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City planners envisioned a “superhighway” to relieve congestion and link the Loop with the western suburbs.
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The plan gained momentum after World War II, when federal and state governments poured money into highway construction.
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The proposed route followed the path of Congress Street, earning the early name Congress Expressway.
It was one of the first major projects in Chicago’s modern expressway system.
Construction and Design (1949–1960)
Construction began in 1949, making the Congress Expressway one of the first expressways in the U.S. to cut through an urban core.
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The design featured sunken roadways, with bridges carrying cross-streets overhead.
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A dedicated rail corridor was included, allowing the CTA’s West Side trains to operate in the expressway median (what would later become the Blue Line).
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In 1964, the expressway was renamed the Eisenhower Expressway in honor of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who championed the national Interstate Highway System.
This integrated design of highway and transit was innovative for its time.
Community Displacement
The expressway’s construction came at a heavy cost.
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Entire neighborhoods on the West Side were demolished, displacing over 13,000 residents.
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Homes, businesses, churches, and schools were bulldozed to make way for the highway.
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Many displaced families were working-class and African American, contributing to patterns of segregation and economic decline.
This echoed a broader trend in mid-20th-century urban planning, where highway construction disproportionately harmed minority and low-income communities.
Economic and Social Impacts
The Eisenhower Expressway had profound effects on Chicago’s urban fabric:
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Suburbanization: It facilitated westward migration, allowing middle-class families to leave the city while commuting to downtown jobs.
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Urban Decline: The neighborhoods bordering the expressway suffered from depopulation, disinvestment, and declining property values.
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Accessibility: At the same time, the highway improved access to the Loop, regional job centers, and O’Hare Airport.
The expressway exemplified the double-edged nature of highway planning: economic growth for some, displacement and decline for others.
The CTA Blue Line and Transit Integration
A unique feature of the Eisenhower Expressway was its integration with public transit.
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The CTA’s West Side “L” trains were relocated into the expressway’s median.
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In 1958, the Congress Line opened, later becoming part of the Blue Line.
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This design ensured continued transit service to western neighborhoods and suburbs, even as car traffic grew.
Chicago became a national model for combining highways and rapid transit.
Legacy of Postwar Planning
The Eisenhower Expressway reflects key trends in postwar urban planning:
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Car-Centric Design: Highways were prioritized over neighborhoods and pedestrian-friendly design.
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Federal Influence: Federal highway funding shaped local planning decisions.
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Racial and Economic Inequities: Highway routes often cut through marginalized communities, accelerating patterns of segregation.
The project remains one of the most studied examples of urban renewal and its consequences.
Modern Challenges and Redevelopment
Today, the Eisenhower faces serious challenges:
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Congestion: It is one of the most heavily trafficked expressways in Illinois, often gridlocked during rush hours.
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Aging Infrastructure: Bridges, lanes, and transit corridors require costly repairs.
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Environmental Concerns: Car dependency contributes to pollution and climate change.
Proposals for redevelopment include:
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Expanding lanes and modernizing interchanges.
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Improving the Blue Line median service.
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Incorporating green infrastructure and noise barriers to reduce environmental impact.
Balancing modernization with community needs remains a central debate.
Legacy
The Eisenhower Expressway stands as both a feat of engineering and a lesson in urban planning trade-offs. It:
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Enhanced mobility and suburban growth.
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Disrupted and displaced thousands of urban residents.
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Became a model for integrating highways and rail transit.
Its history illustrates the complex legacy of postwar transportation planning in American cities.
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