Editing Dan Ryan Expressway

{{short description|Highway in Illinois}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox road
|state=IL
|type=I-named
|route= Dan Ryan Expressway
|alternate_name= South Route Expressway
|map={{maplink-road|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Dan Ryan Expressway}}}}
|map_custom=yes
|length_mi= 11.47
|length_ref= <ref name="t2" />
|established= 1961
|allocation=
*{{jct|state=IL|I|90}} from near [[Downtown Chicago]] to [[Englewood, Chicago|Englewood]]
*{{jct|state=IL|I|94}} entire length
|direction_a=North
|terminus_a={{jct|state=IL|I|90|I|94|I|290|CKC}} in [[Chicago]]
|junction=
*{{jct|state=IL|I|55}} in Chicago
*{{jct|state=IL|I-Toll|90|Skyway}} in Chicago
*{{jct|state=IL|US|12|US|20}} in Chicago
|direction_b=South
|terminus_b={{jct|state=IL|I|57|I|94}} in Chicago
}}

[[Image:Dan Ryan Expressway-1970.jpeg|thumb|right|The Dan Ryan Expressway West Leg (now more commonly referred to as [[Interstate 57|I-57]]) at Genoa Road in 1970]]

The '''Dan Ryan Expressway''', often called "the Dan Ryan" by locals,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jindra |first1=Sarah |title=A crash course on the names of Chicago’s expressways |url=https://wgntv.com/news/trending/a-crash-course-on-the-names-of-chicagos-expressways/ |access-date=February 20, 2025 |publisher=WGN Television |date=August 17, 2022}}</ref> is an [[Controlled-access highway|expressway]] in [[Chicago]] that runs from the [[Jane Byrne Interchange]] with [[Interstate 290 (Illinois)|Interstate 290]] (I-290) near [[downtown Chicago]] through the [[South Side, Chicago|South Side]] of the city. It is designated as both [[Interstate 90 in Illinois|I-90]] and [[Interstate 94 in Illinois|I-94]] south to 66th Street, a distance of {{convert|7.44|mi|km|2}}. South of 66th Street, the expressway meets the [[Chicago Skyway]], which travels southeast; the I-90 designation transfers over to the Skyway, while the Dan Ryan Expressway retains the I-94 designation and continues south for {{convert|4.03|mi|km|2}}, ending at an interchange with [[Interstate 57|I-57]]. This is a total distance of {{convert|11.47|mi|km|1}}.<ref name="t2" /> The highway was named for [[Dan Ryan Jr.]], a former [[president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners]].

== Route description ==
On an average day, up to 307,100&nbsp;vehicles use a portion of the Dan Ryan (2005 data).<ref name=t2>{{cite web |author = Illinois Technology Transfer Center |url = http://www.dot.state.il.us/gist2/select.html |title = T2 GIS Data |access-date = November 8, 2007 |year = 2006 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070810103329/http://dot.state.il.us/gist2/select.html |archive-date = August 10, 2007 }}</ref> The Dan Ryan, and its [[North Side, Chicago|North Side]] counterpart the [[Kennedy Expressway]], are the busiest roads in the entire state of [[Illinois]]. Utilizing an [[Local-express lanes|express-local system]], the Dan Ryan has 14 lanes of traffic; seven in each direction, with four of those as express lanes and the other three providing access for exit and on-ramps. Because of its width, the Dan Ryan is very popular with commuters who live south of the Loop, making the road prone to traffic jams during weekday rush hour.

The posted directions on the Dan Ryan are different from the actual compass direction of the expressway, which may cause confusion to many travelers. The Dan Ryan for its entire {{convert|12|mi|km|adj=on}} length runs north–south. However, the Dan Ryan is a part of the larger Interstates 90 and 94, which both run east–west through the [[United States]]. Therefore, one who is traveling "west" on I-90/94 is actually driving north on the Dan Ryan as it passes through Chicago; I-90 continues northwest from the Kennedy split, while I-94 runs north–south until the [[Marquette Interchange]] in [[Milwaukee]]. Similarly, "east" on 90 and 94 on the entire system is really south through Chicago; the interstates will continue on an easterly path outside of the city. Chicagoans also typically refer to the direction of travel as either "inbound" or "outbound" from the downtown area.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

Four miles of continuous high-rise [[housing projects]] ([[Stateway Gardens]] and the [[Robert Taylor Homes]]) formerly ran parallel to the expressway on its eastern side from Cermak Road south to Garfield Boulevard. However, nearly all of these buildings have been demolished as part of the [[Chicago Housing Authority|CHA]]'s transformation plan.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

The [[Red Line (CTA)|Red Line]] runs in the median of the Dan Ryan south of 27th Street. [[Dan Ryan branch|This section]] of the [[Chicago "L"]] opened on September 28, 1969. Chicago pioneered the location of [[rapid transit]] line in expressway medians, a practice that has since been followed in several other cities, such as [[Toronto]], and [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]].<ref>{{cite news |title = Ryan rail service starts today |author = Thomas Buck |newspaper = [[Chicago Tribune]] |date = September 28, 1969 }}</ref>

The [[control city|control cities]] for the Dan Ryan Expressway are [[Indiana]] south, and the [[Chicago Loop]] northbound.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

== History ==
The first segment of the Dan Ryan, opened on December 12, 1961, and ran between [[U.S. Route 12 in Illinois|US&nbsp;12]]/[[U.S. Route 20 in Illinois|US&nbsp;20]], 95th Street north to 71st Street in Chicago's [[Greater Grand Crossing, Chicago|Grand Crossing]] neighborhood. It was named after the recently deceased [[Dan Ryan, Jr.]], who was President of the [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook County]] Board of Commissioners who had worked to accelerate construction of Chicago-area expressways. A year later on December 15, 1962, the {{convert|8|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch of the Dan Ryan between 71st Street and [[Interstate 90 in Illinois|I-90]]/[[Eisenhower Expressway]] (now signed as [[Interstate 290 (Illinois)|I-290]]) opened to the public as well as a {{convert|0.2|mi|adj=on}} stretch that connected it to the [[Bishop Ford Freeway]] (then known as the '''Calumet Expressway'''). During the planning stages it was also known as the '''South Route Expressway'''.<ref>{{cite news |title = Daniel Ryan (obituary) |work = Cook County Highways |date = April 1961 |page = 3 }}</ref>

[[File:Dan Ryan Expressway from street level.jpg|thumb|right|Northbound Dan Ryan Expressway near 51st Street]]
[[Image:Dan Ryan 33rd Street Night.jpg|thumb|right|Expressway at night]] 
[[Image:The Dan Ryan Expressway Westbound near the I-55 exit.jpg|thumb|right|View in 2008 looking north towards the Chicago Loop from the Dan Ryan Expressway. [[Dan Ryan branch|'L' tracks]] can be seen in the median.]]
[[File:HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE DAN RYAN EXPRESSWAY IN CHICAGO ILLINOIS. IT IS THE BUSIEST IN THE UNITED STATES WITH 254,700... - NARA - 556193.jpg|thumb|right|Heavy traffic in 1973]]
In 1988–1989, the northern {{convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} of the Dan Ryan, known as the '''Elevated Bridge''', were completely reconstructed.<ref>{{cite news |last = Hilkevitch |first = John |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0603260419mar26,1,7032775.story?coll=chi-news-hed |title = Buckle up, it looks like a long ride |work = Chicago Tribune |date = March 26, 2006 |access-date = March 26, 2006 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 2006 and 2007, the [[Illinois Department of Transportation]] reconstructed the entire length of the Dan Ryan Expressway, including the addition of a travel lane from 47th Street to [[95th Street (Chicago)|95th Street]]. The project was the largest expressway reconstruction plan in Chicago history. The total cost of the project was $975 million, nearly twice the $550 million original estimate for the project.<ref name=tribune_opens>{{cite web |url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-danryan_weboct26,0,7051621.story?coll=chi_features_lifestyle_health_promo |author = Haggerty, Ryan |title = All lanes will be open on the Dan Ryan |date = October 26, 2007 |access-date = October 26, 2007 |work = Chicago Tribune }}</ref><ref name=southtown>{{cite web |work = Daily Southtown |last = Tridgell |first = Guy |title = Falling gas prices won't stay |date = October 18, 2007 |access-date = October 25, 2007 |url = http://www.dailysouthtown.com/business/tridgell/608023,101807onthemove.article }}{{dead link|date=October 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

== Exit list ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2023}}
{{jcttop|exit|location=Chicago|county=Cook|state=IL|length_ref=}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=
|exit=
|road={{jct|state=IL|I|90|dir1=west|I|94|dir2=west|name2=[[Kennedy Expressway]]|location1=[[Wisconsin]]}}
|notes=Continuation beyond I-290}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=51.8
|exit=51H
|road={{jct|state=IL|I|290|dir1=west|name1=[[Eisenhower Expressway]]|location1=West Suburbs}}
|notes=No exit number westbound}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=51.8
|exit=51I
|road=[[Ida B. Wells Drive]] (500 South)
|notes=Signed as 51H eastbound}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=52.1
|exit=52A
|type=incomplete
|road=Taylor Street (1000 South), [[Roosevelt Road]] (1200 South)
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=52.3
|exit=52B
|type=incomplete
|road=[[Roosevelt Road]] (1200 South), Taylor Street (1000 South)
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=52.9
|exit=52C
|type=incomplete
|road=18th Street
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=53.0
|exit=53A
|type=incomplete
|road=Canalport Avenue, [[Cermak Road]] (2200 South)
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=53.3
|exit=53
|road={{jct|state=IL|I|55|name1=[[Stevenson Expressway]]|location1=[[St. Louis]]|location2=[[Lake Shore Drive]]}}
|notes=Signed as exits 53B (south) and 53C (north) westbound}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=
|place=Western end of express lanes}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=53.8
|exit=53C
|type=incomplete
|road=[[Cermak Road]] (2200 South)
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=54.7
|exit=54
|road=31st Street (3100 South)
|notes=}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=55.2
|exit=55A
|road=35th Street
|notes=[[Rate Field]], [[Illinois Institute of Technology]] }}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=55.7
|exit=55B
|road=[[Pershing Road (Chicago)|Pershing Road]] (3900 South)
|notes=}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=56.2
|exit=56A
|road=43rd Street
|notes=}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=56.7
|exit=56B
|road=47th Street (4700 South)
|notes=}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=57.7
|exit=57
|road=[[Garfield Boulevard (Chicago)|Garfield Boulevard]] (5500 South)
|notes=}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=58.2
|exit=58A
|type=incomplete
|road=59th Street
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; signed as exit 58 westbound}}
{{ILint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=58.7
|exit=58B
|road=63rd Street (6300 South)
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; signed as exit 58 eastbound}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=59.0
|exit=59A
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=IL|I-Toll|90|dir1=east|Skyway|dir2=east|to3=yes||Toll}}
|notes=Eastern end of I-90 concurrency; eastbound exit and westbound entrance}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=59.3
|exit=59B
|type=incomplete
|road=Marquette Road, 67th Street (6700 South)
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=
|place=Eastern end of express lanes}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=59.8
|exit=59C
|road=71st Street (7100 South)
|notes=}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=60.3
|exit=60A
|type=incomplete
|road=75th Street
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=60.4
|exit=60B
|road=76th Street
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=60.8
|exit=60C
|road=79th Street (7900 South)
|notes=}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=61.3
|exit=61A
|road=83rd Street
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=61.8
|exit=61B
|road=87th Street (8700 South)
|notes=}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=62.8
|exit=62
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=IL|US|12|US|20|name2=[[95th Street (Chicago)|95th Street]]}}
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=63.17
|mspan=2
|exit=63
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=IL|I|57|dir1=south|location1=[[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]]}}
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance}}
{{ILint|exit
|mile=none
|exit=—
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=IL|I|94|dir1=east|name1=[[Bishop Ford Freeway]]|location1=[[Indiana]]}}
|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance}}
{{jctbtm|keys=concur,incomplete}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Dan Ryan Expressway}}
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
* [http://www.chicagoroads.com/roads/dan-ryan/ Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90 and I-94) at Steve Anderson's ChicagoRoads.com]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080605151021/http://www.gcmtravelstats.com/Default.aspx?selLinks1=94 Historic, Current & Average Travel Times For The Dan Ryan Expressway]}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Interstate 90]]
[[Category:Interstate 94]]
[[Category:Transport infrastructure completed in 1962]]
[[Category:Expressways in the Chicago area]]