This article is part of a daily series of MegaProjects articles. If you want to know more about PPP projects with a considerable size visit our MegaProjects section. You can receive them by email on a daily basis.

The Governor of Illinois, Bruce Vincent Rauner, along with legislative leaders and local elected officials recently announced a legislative resolution that would allow the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to use the PPP model to carry out a proposal to add managed lanes along the Interstate 55 in the Chicago area.

The legislative approval allows IDOT to continue exploring the PPP model as an option to carry out the project, and it also allows IDOT to begin the procurement process. 

The project involves the provision of additional highway capacity along the 25-mile section of the Interstate 55 from Interstate 355 to Interstate 90/Interstate 94 in DuPage, Cook, and Will Counties. 

The PPP road project could be built as toll or express toll lanes. According to sources, the use of this option would save approximately US$425 million in construction costs. IDOT is considering building one inbound and one outbound lane for toll traffic.

The PPP proposal was the subject of a public hearing on Dec. 9. 

Bruce Vincent Rauner stated: 

By using existing resources to leverage private investment, we can build the type of infrastructure that allows Illinois to better compete in the 21st century. This is an innovative project that will create jobs, improve the region's quality of life and show that Illinois is open for business."

Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn, commented:

"Managed lanes are truly an expressway within an expressway - one more option that will make travel more convenient for everyone who uses I-55. This project signals a new way of doing business at IDOT and a model for improvements throughout our system."

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, added:

"Regardless of the time of day, there is congestion along the Stevenson Expressway. Not only is it a source of regular frustration for drivers, including myself, it can be a dangerous situation for both motorist and passengers. What we are proposing today would give IDOT leeway to further explore the possibility of using private funds to keep the I-55 Congestion Relief Project alive and moving forward."

I-55 carries more than 180,000 vehicles each day and the I-90 between I-55 and West Pershing Road ranks number 23 among the 50 most bottlenecked roads in the country.

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner put a hold on plans for the Illiana Expressway P3 in 2014 soon after taking office. He decided later that year to cancel the project.