When Mayor Daley announced his plans for expansion at O'Hare Airport, not all the facts and figures where put on the table.

The airport projects planned by Chicago amount to at least $6 billion for "runway configuration" and on-airport purposes. In addition, costs for completing the ElginO'Hare Expressway, relocating a rail yard, contingencies, and sound insulation programs have IDOT estimating the cost of Chicago's proposal at an additional $10.5 billion. Moreover, when the current $3.5 billion "World Gateway" improvements are included, along with the roadway expansion plans for the ElginO'Hare's ring road, and other projects, the total cost of O'Hare Expansion may well exceed $18 billion as reported in the July 16, 2001 issue of Crain's Chicago Business, Accounting for cost over runs and other unanticipated expenses, the cost of this proposal will likely exceed $20 billion.

As a basis for comparison, $15 billion was the cost to complete the Chunnel project in 1994 connecting England and France. This was called the most expensive public works project in human history. Mayor Daley's plan for O'Hare exceeds that cost.