Edens Expressway
The
William G. Edens Expressway (also known as the
Edens Parkway and the
Edens Superhighway) is the main major
expressway north from the city of
Chicago. It was the first expressway in Chicago and was opened on
December 20,
1951. It is three lanes in each direction. The original name of the expressway was the
Edens Parkway, named after
William Edens, a banker and major proponent of paved roads.
A snowstorm forced the delay of the opening of the Edens Expressway, but snowplows helped to open the road to travelers a few hours late.
Going north, the expressway goes from the
Kennedy Expressway in Chicago north to the
Edens Spur of the
Tri-State Tollway in
Northbrook.
Interstate 94 diverges at that point onto the spur, while
U.S. Highway 41 remains on the mainline, which becomes the
Skokie Highway.
Southbound, U.S. 41 exits the Edens Expressway at Skokie Boulevard. Interstate 94 continues south to the junction of the Edens with the
Kennedy Expressway and
Interstate 90 in Chicago.
The Edens was last rehabilitated from
1978 through
1980.
[Hilkevitch, John. Buckle up, it looks like a long ride. Chicago Tribune. Published March 26, 2006. Retrieved March 26, 2006.]Due to changes in storm sewer management in the Chicagoland area, the Edens is now prone to flooding and has been partially or completely closed by floodwaters several times in recent years.
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Illinois Highways
