Illinois Tollway oasis

The Belvidere Oasis

An Illinois Tollway oasis is a type of service plaza that is found along interstate highways that are toll roads in Illinois. These oases are found in the Chicago area. There are currently seven oases. While rare in the US, this form of development is common in the UK.

Unlike many other US rest stops, these areas are full service, or "commercialized". US federal regulations forbid commercial development at rest areas on toll-free interstates; only toll roads can offer services to the public. The Wendell H. Ford Western Kentucky Parkway in Kentucky and the Connecticut Turnpike, have service areas that have been grandfathered because they were built when their associated highways were toll roads. Some rest areas along the New York State Thruway and almost all along the New Jersey Turnpike are also "commercialized" to at least some extent.

The oases in Illinois have gas stations (Mobil), fast food restaurants (McDonald's, Panda Express, Subway, etc.), and other various stores (Krispy Kreme, Starbucks, TravelMart). Six of the oases are unusual in that they are built directly over the interstate highway. The oasis in DeKalb is the only exception in that the oasis was constructed along one side of the highway, a highway overpass provides access to traffic traveling in the opposing direction.

Recently, an extensive renovation program was completed on these oases (most were built in the late 1950s and featured Standard Oil gas stations and Fred Harvey restaurants). This involved demolishing the old oases structures to the bridge deck and replacing them with new buildings. Where in the previous buildings the view of the highways were blocked by the vendor restaurants, in the new buildings large expanses of glass are used to create a sense of openness, and to give patrons excellent views of the highway. The steel truss design also has greater height (nearly 30') than the old buildings, which increases visibility for the oases. The architects for the project are Cordogan, Clark & Associates.

The oases were redeveloped at no cost or risk to the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA). The $95 million investment was provided by Wilton Partners of Los Angeles, CA and ExxonMobil in exchange for a 25 year lease.

The lease agreements between ISTHA, Wilton Partners, and various vendors have come under investigation by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. This investigation, reported on 30 December 2005, will determine if a conflict of interest existed between the lessees and a political fundraiser for Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (Antoin Rezko). DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett had also requested documents pertaining to these leases earlier in 2005.

The interior of the Belvidere Oasis building.

Locations

* Belvidere Oasis - I-90 (Northwest Tollway), just east of Rockford, Illinois.
* DeKalb Oasis - I-88 (Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway) near DeKalb, Illinois.
* Des Plaines Oasis - I-90 (Northwest Tollway) near Des Plaines, Illinois.
* Hinsdale Oasis - I-294 (Tri-State Tollway) near Hinsdale, Illinois.
* Lake Forest Oasis, I-94 (Tri-State Tollway) near Lake Forest, Illinois.
* Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis, (I-80/294) (Tri-State Tollway) near South Holland, Illinois.
* O'Hare Oasis, (I-294) (Tri-State Tollway) near Schiller Park, Illinois.

Trivia

*The only Tollway that does not have an oasis on it is the North South Tollway, (Interstate 355), which opened decades after the other tollways and oases were built.

Notes

# Testimony from the National Association of Convenience Stores and the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America to Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska). The testimony cites a prohibition by Congress on commercialization of rest areas on Interstate Highways that do not have tolls. # Daily Herald story on Tollway oasis lease investigation. Accessed 30 December 2005.# Daily Herald story on reaction to the published reports about the investigation. Accessed 31 December 2005.# Crain's Chicago Business story on Birkett's investigation of Wilton Partners. Accessed 27 March 2006.

External links

* Illinois State Toll Highway Authority - Oases Services
* Official Illinois Oases Web Site