Two of the three newly reconstructed outbound lanes of Chicago’s Interstate 55 Stevenson Expressway between Canal Street and Kedzie Avenue open to traffic for the first time today.

Both inbound and outbound sides are scheduled to be fully open by Oct. 1, after crews finish removing temporary safety barriers and barrels that were installed when the reconstruction began in the spring of 1999.
The reconstruction is one of Gov. George Ryan's Illinois First projects, which has placed rehabilitation work on an accelerated schedule.
This year marks the final phase of the $567 million reconstruction of the Stevenson Expressway.