Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways, Elected Officials Celebrate Groundbreaking of $36 Million Project on Franklin Avenue/Green Street

Improvements will reduce congestion, improve safety, promote economic growth in Cook County

Today, leaders from Cook County’s Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH) along with federal, state and local officials, celebrated the groundbreaking for a major roadway project in the Villages of Franklin Park and Bensenville.

The project will significantly improve travel efficiency for residents and businesses located near the Franklin Avenue/Green Street corridor and will result in enhanced multimodal connections to the nearby Canadian Pacific/Kansas City railyard and O’Hare International Airport.

The roadway project is the result of a multi-agency partnership between Cook County, DuPage County, the Illinois Tollway, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) and the Villages of Bensenville and Franklin Park. Cook County is leading construction of this $36.7 million project while also providing funding, technical expertise and serving as the link between agency partners. Cook County secured $27.1 million from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program.

“This project was truly a team effort, combining the resources of local, state and federal governments to ensure its success,” said President Preckwinkle. “Motorists will be able to travel more efficiently through this area and businesses will benefit from better access to the nearby intermodal yard.”

Congestion will be reduced by reconstructing 1.8 miles of roadway, including expanding a two-lane road into a five-lane road. New pedestrian and bicycle facilities will be built, and lighting and drainage systems will be modernized. This regional project will provide better mobility within a dense commercial and industrial corridor and support improved regional access once the Illinois Tollway I-490 project is complete.

“These local road improvements on Franklin Avenue and Green Street led by Cook County are critical to the delivery of the Illinois Tollway’s new Franklin Avenue Interchange providing direct access to both the future I-490 Tollway and the Tri-State Tollway (I-294),” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “The strong partnership between the County and the Tollway, as well as with the Villages of Franklin Park and Bensenville, will ensure enhanced mobility and improved access for businesses, freight and commuters in this key transportation corridor.”

The improvement of Franklin Avenue/Green Street will benefit Cook County by attracting private development, creating job opportunities, easing congestion on the local roadway system and reducing out-of-direction travel.

The project is planned to be completed by 2027. Motorists are advised to allow extra time for trips through this area, exercise caution and remain alert to construction activity and workers in the area.

To view the DoTH 2025 highway construction project map, visit www.cookcountyil.gov/service/highway-construction-projects.