The long-awaited and much-anticipated new $46 million Interstate 57 interchange at Bourbonnais opens to traffic tomorrow (Friday). The $46-million project at 6000N Road is expected to open the door to business ventures between several counties, including Kankakee, Will, Cook and into northwest Indiana.

The new I- 57 interchange, known as Bourbonnais Parkway, has a 10 am invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled.

I-DOT has not announced an official time for the traffic to start flowing.

Kankakee Valley Construction Company has been hard at work on the project since the summer of 2015. It’s exit 318. The cost listed at $46.3 million.

Bourbonnais Mayor Paul Schore says it’s his understand planning for the project started some 20 plus years ago. The surrounding 1,200 acres are being targeted as a prime area for industrial and business development.

The new interchange also includes extensive improvements to U.S. Route 45/52, Illinois Route 50 and Kankakee County Road 6000N.

94.1 WGFA