Highway Oasis - Definition and Overview

The Belvidere Oasis

A Highway Oasis is a type of rest stop that is found along Interstate Highways that are toll roads in Illinois. These oases are found in the Chicago area. There are currently seven oases.

These structures are quite different than other Interstate rest stops. Unlike other rest stops, these stops are full service. These have gas stations, fast food resturants, and other various stores. Six of the oases are also unique in that they are built directly over the interstate highway. The oasis in DeKalb is the only exception in that the oasis was constructed along one side of the highway, traffic on the other side access the site through a highway overpass.

Recently, an extensive renovation program was begun on these oases. This involved tearing down the old oases buildings and replacing them with new buildings. Where in the previous buildings the view of the highways were blocked by the vendor resturants, in the new buildings the windows are left open to create a sense of openess, and to give patrons excellent views of the highway. The steel truss design also has greater height than the old buildings, which increase visibility for the oases.

Currently, most of the oases are closed for the renovation. Two of the oases, Belvidere and O'Hare, are finished and have since reopened for business.

The interior of the Belvidere Oasis building.

Locations

• Belvidere Oasis - I-90 (Northwest Tollway), just east of Rockford, Illinois.
• DeKalb Oasis - I-88 (Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway) near DeKalb, Illinois.
• Des Plaines Oasis - I-90 (Northwest Tollway I-90) near Des Plaines, Illinois.
• Hinsdale Oasis - I-294 (Tri-State Tollway) near Hinsdale, Illinois.
• Lake Forest Oasis, I-94 (Tri-State Tollway) near Lake Forest, Illinois.
• Lincoln Oasis, (I-80/94) (Tri-State Tollway) near South Holland, Illinois.
• O’Hare Oasis, Tollway (I-294) (Tri-State Tollway) near Schiller Park, Illinois.

External links

• Illinois State Toll Highway Authority - Oases Services (http://www.illinoistollway.com/portal/page?_pageid=53,35056,53_35073&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL)