Quinn: Plans moving to relieve expressway tie-ups

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says plans are moving forward to improve traffic flow at Chicago's notoriously congested Circle Interchange.

The interchange connects the Kennedy, Dan Ryan and Eisenhower expressways west of Chicago's downtown business district. With more than 400,000 vehicles passing through each day, Quinn's office says it's the most congested interchange in the nation.

In a press release Thursday, Quinn says the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning agreed to include the project in the "GO TO 2040" long-term transportation plan. The plan allows the Illinois Department of Transportation to pursue federal funding for the estimated $420 million project.

The proposed project involves replacing and widening aging ramps. The design also will be reconfigured to make it safer.

Quinn says the project also will create thousands of jobs.