55 ILCS 5/5-34001
It is hereby declared as a matter of legislative determination that there is excessive congestion on existing highways in large metropolitan areas in counties having a population of more than 500,000 inhabitants, due to constant movement of large masses of passenger and freight traffic to and from and within said metropolitan areas; that existing highway facilities are inadequate to fulfill the requirements and necessities of said traffic in said counties over 500,000 population; that there is need in said counties of a special system of Expressway highways of limited access, bridges, viaducts and other traffic facilities, through and around cities, villages and incorporated towns, known as and hereinafter called Expressways, designed to meet the requirements of present and constantly increasing traffic and to join in with plans of the Federal Government to establish a system of transcontinental roads designed to meet the requirements of the national defense and the needs of a growing peace time traffic of longer range; that the conditions herein described are peculiar to counties having a population of over 500,000 inhabitants, that existing governmental subdivisions and agencies do not have financial means to provide such special systems of Expressway highways of limited access, bridges, viaducts and other traffic facilities; that, therefore, in order to promote and protect the health, safety and welfare of the public in the rapid and safe movement of mass highway passenger and freight traffic by means of special systems of limited access, Expressway highways with no left turns or cross traffic, special bridges, viaducts and other traffic facilities and to expedite the completion of the construction thereof it is necessary to provide funds to pay the costs of constructing such a project or projects including the costs and expenses incurred in the acquisition of and payment for real and personal property involved in the construction of said limited access, Expressway highways, bridges and viaducts and other highway facilities appurtenant thereto.
55 ILCS 5/5-34001