An article published by the Daily Herald Business Ledger recently looked into what could be threatening the progress of Western Access O’Hare (aka the Elgin-O’Hare extension), a project vital to suburban Chicago, and especially DuPage County.
In the article, recent project setbacks were characterized as ‘gamesmanship’ on the part of Chicago, ultimately related to the budget stalemate and other State-level issues. As the driving force for economic development in DuPage County, Choose DuPage Economic Development Alliance took a look at what the price of ‘gamesmanship’ will be for the region.
O’Hare International Airport, the nation’s second busiest airport, links our region and the rest of the world. However, its existing infrastructure leads to heavy delay and congestion. Currently, O’Hare is accessed only from the east. The Western Access O’Hare project will give western access to the airport with an addition of a western roadway, allowing our region to meet future transportation demands.
The enhanced infrastructure will bring with it a modern and diverse economic base that will transform the region. The area will become a prime location for businesses to locate and future developments looking to take advantage of transportation gateways to the rest of the world. In an increasingly global economy, convenient access to national and global markets will improve the competitiveness and productivity of local businesses while facilitating economic growth.
The benefits from the Western Access O’Hare project are compelling because they would completely transform the economy of the region. According to the Elgin-O’Hare Western Bypass Advisory Council, the economic benefits of this project include:
- Opportunity exists to create 65,000 jobs by 2040
- Local tax revenues are expected to increase by $29 million annually (based on 2010 projection)
- 13,450 jobs will be created annually in the region during construction
- Travel delays will be reduced, saving $145 million annually by 2040