The Illinois Department of Transportation cut the ribbon yesterday to signal the end of one of the largest and longest construction projects in state history.

Why it matters: After nine years and over $800 million spent, the Jane Byrne Interchange — formerly the Circle Interchange — is designed to improve downtown traffic and connect expressways.

• It sees about 400,000 daily commuters.

What they're saying: "For almost a decade, Illinois’ first-rate workforce worked day in and day out to entirely reconstruct this massive project," Gov. JB Pritzer said at the ribbon-cutting.

By the numbers: IDOT expects the project will cut downtown traffic delays in half.

• They say these improvements could amount to $180 million a year in savings from faster commutes and could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 33%.

Yes, but: The project started in 2013 and was supposed to be completed in 2018 for $535.5 million.

• The latest estimate: $806.4 million
• IDOT blamed the overruns on several factors, including poor soil.

Zoom in: Improvement through the interchange include:

• 90/94 will go from three lanes to four.
• The 290 ramps will go from one lane to two.
• Adams and Jackson ramps are reopening.
• And on 90/94, some left-side ramps were switched to the right.

What's more: It wasn't just the exchange. Ten bridges over the expressway were rebuilt, with improvements for pedestrians, cyclists and nearby residents.

What's next: The project is done, but some painting, landscaping and paving projects will continue through spring.

💭 Justin's thought bubble: The year this construction project started, Rahm was mayor, CPS closed 50 schools, Roger Ebert died, Jesse Jackson Jr. went to prison, and the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup.

• Wow.

Flu cases are peaking early this year, according to CDC data.

Why it matters: Like much of the nation, Illinois is seeing high numbers of flu and RSV cases, along with rising COVID-19 cases — all at the same time.

• Health professionals advise getting your flu shot now.

🎰 New plans for the Chicago casino passed the City Council today, paving the way for construction to begin along the river near Chicago Avenue. (Tribune)

🛤 The council also passed a new transit "TIF district" for the extension of the Red Line to 130th street. The project will allocate tax money from downtown but will also need federal dollars. (Block Club)

🚨 Police sources say a single crew is responsible for nearly 20 armed robberies per day. (Sun-Times)

If Chicago-centric books and housewares aren't your bag, this list of local foodie gifts might help you complete your holiday shopping:

🍕 Italian Beef Deep Dish Pizzas are available for a limited time in a collaboration between Lou Malnati's and Portillo's (two pies for $72.99).

• We don't know how they taste, but the final layer of hot giardiniera should make them taste like Chicago.

🍯 Red Belly Honey was founded by local culinary cannabis innovator Joline Rivera, who partners with Bee Fuse Technology to create a honey infused with CBD by actual bees ($74.49 a jar).

• Rivera sees it as medicinal food.

🥖 Holiday baking classes at Publican Quality Bread with Greg Wade on Friday and Saturday this week ($125).

• Or you could just buy Wade's fabulous new cookbook, "Bread Head" ($45), along with a warm loaf of sourdough.

☕️ Red Kite Blend Coffee by Oak Park's Whirlwind Coffee Co., where $3 from every $16.50 bag goes to benefit programs for youth with special needs.

💼 Check out who’s hiring now.

1. Chief Broking Officer, Construction at NFP.
2. Sr. Vice President, Corporate Affairs at Zeno Group.
3. Director, Content Planning and Product Launches at Gartner.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a Job.

Carvana, the online used-car dealership known for its multistory "car vending machines," is struggling, writes Axios Dallas' Michael Mooney.

Driving the driving news: After recently laying off 1,500 employees, the company's creditors are preparing for bankruptcy.

• Carvana has a location in Oak Brook but hasn't had an easy go of it in Illinois after its license was suspended for not following state law. (The dealer is still permitted to operate while the matter is being resolved in court.)

This got us thinking: If Carvana goes under, what could we do with those unique vending machine buildings?

• We have some incredibly creative yet totally realistic suggestions:

🍸 A multilevel bar, where the drinks get fancier as you go up.

🥩 A new Ditka's restaurant, so gawkers can watch from below as people chow down on rib-eyes.

🎢 A drive-in amusement park ride like Disney's Tower of Terror that lifts your car up and down over and over again.

🏄‍♂️ The world's largest indoor vertical wave pool. It would defy physics.

🔎 The world's most transparent escape room, where bystanders can place bets on their favorites.

📬 What's your best idea to repurpose this funky building? Reply and let us know!