Crystal Lake Man Protests Des Plaines Oasis Closing; Says He 'Was Conceived There'

A 21-year-old Crystal Lake man has chained himself to the door of the Des Plaines Oasis in a one-man protest against the permanent closing of the Oasis, which is scheduled to shut its doors for good weekend, according to CBS Chicago.

Kevin Walters told CBS Chicago Friday the Oasis, which is located along the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, has special sentimental value for him. His parents told Walters he was conceived there after "one thing led to another" following a Phil Collins concert, according to the article.  

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The Des Plaines Oasis is slated to close on March 16 so work can begin to remove the over-the-road structure as part of the $2.5 billion Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) Rebuilding and Widening Project, according to an Illinois Tollway press release. 

Removing the oasis will allow a fourth lane to be added in each direction from O’Hare International Airport to Elgin, easing congestion and increasing driver safety by accommodating up to 30,000 more vehicles daily, according to the news release. The demolition also is necessary as the Tollway proceeds with construction of the $3.4 billion Elgin O’Hare Western Access Project.

“While we are saddened by the closing of a part of the agency’s history, we’re excited about what the future will bring,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “Removing the oasis will allow us to make tremendous roadway improvements that will benefit our customers by reducing travel times, congestion and pollution while providing a new link to O’Hare Airport.”

The closing date will give oasis tenants time to take their equipment from inside the building before the Tollway begins utility work in April and then removes the over-the-road structure. 

Doors to the oasis are expected to close at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday. The $4.8 million project, which also includes restoring the site and making parking improvements, is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.

The two adjoining fuel stations and convenience stores operated by 7-Eleven will remain open to provide services for both eastbound and westbound travelers along I-90.

The I-90 Rebuilding and Widening Project is part of the Tollway’s 15-year, $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. The project includes reconstructing and widening 62 miles of I-90 between Rockford and O’Hare Airport to make the Tollway a state-of-the-art, 21st Century transportation link.

When completed, the project will create eight lanes of traffic from the Kennedy Expressway to Randall Road and six lanes from Randall Road to I-39. It is expected to save drivers up to 27 minutes on a trip from Elgin to the Kennedy Expressway, while saving drivers about $440 million annually in reduced traffic delays. 

Source: Illinois Tollway press release