ILLINOIS TOLLWAY APPROVES KEY AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF CHICAGO AS NEW I-490 TOLLWAY CONTINUES TO PROGRESS
Agreement includes land and design parameters necessary to protect airport and ensure access during construction
DOWNERS GROVE, IL, February 17, 2022 — The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors today announced a key agreement with the City of Chicago necessary to construct the new I-490 Tollway – and complete the $3.4 billion Elgin O’Hare Western Access Project investment in the region’s transportation infrastructure. The agreement approved during the February Board meeting positions the Tollway to build and operate a completely new roadway in the shadow of one of the nation’s largest airports, guiding the design efforts and providing land access needed for completion.
“My administration is proud to mark yet another milestone in enhancing transportation in the Chicago metropolitan region, paving the way for additional access to O’Hare,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “When complete, this project will enhance access for countless Illinoisans to not only one of the world’s busiest airports, but additional highways, transit centers, businesses and communities throughout the region. I thank our City of Chicago partners for working alongside the Illinois Tollway to see this project through.”
As a result of the recent, historic agreements with the Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific railroads that were necessary for the new I-490 Tollway to cross the Canadian Pacific Railway Bensenville Intermodal Yard, the final design required additional negotiations with the City of Chicago.
This agreement provides additional land, while defining a process by which the design of the southern portion of the new road will be managed and coordinated in complete cooperation with the Chicago Department of Aviation, which owns and operates O’Hare International Airport on behalf of the City of Chicago.
“The amended agreement with the Illinois Tollway, which I will introduce to City Council next week, provides a clear path forward toward the jobs, minority contracting opportunities, and improved airport access offered by the I-490 plan,” said Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “I thank Commissioner Rhee and her staff for their stewardship in making these negotiations possible, as well as Executive Director Alvarez and the entire Tollway team for their continued partnership in the years ahead.”
Currently, this portion of the new I-490 Tollway is still under design, and the agreement provides the Illinois Tollway with a clear framework for the land and construction parameters that are necessary to ensure the continuity of the critical transportation network that operates in the area. A final design is expected later this year, with additional details presented to the Elgin O’Hare Western Access Local Corridor Advisory Committee, as well as local and regional stakeholders, and the public at large this summer.
“The level of partnership required between the Tollway, City of Chicago, Chicago Department of Aviation and the railroads to achieve our mutual goals on this complex project cannot be understated,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director José Alvarez. “I’d like to thank Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Commissioner Rhee and her entire team, and reiterate our thanks to the railroad leadership, as well as local, state and federal stakeholders for their continued support.”
The agreement approved today by the Tollway will be introduced to the Chicago City Council by Mayor Lightfoot on Wednesday and referred to the City Council Committee on Aviation for its review and consideration.
Also during the February Board meeting, the Illinois Tollway approved 11 construction and engineering contracts totaling nearly $76 million including three firms stepping up to be first-time primes with the Tollway.
To date, more than $9.5 billion has been invested by the Illinois Tollway since the Move Illinois Program began in 2012, with more than $2.4 billion of that total committed to small, diverse and veteran-owned firms. In addition, the capital program has created or sustained an estimated 105,950 total jobs as of January 2022.
“The Illinois Tollway remains committed to ensuring we have a positive impact on the industry by offering contracts to firms of all sizes, expanding opportunities and building capacity,” said Alvarez. “The contracts with first time prime contractors and consultant approved by our board today show success in our work to give business owners the opportunity to compete and grow on-the-job experience.”
February construction contracts awarded include:
- A $30.9 million contract to Plote Construction Inc./Peter Baker & Sons & Co., Hoffman Estates, IL, for pavement rehabilitation, on the North Tri-State Tollway (I-94) between Half Day Road and Atkinson Road.
- A $17.3 million contract to Plote Construction Inc., Hoffman Estates, IL, for pavement and shoulder rehabilitation on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) between Flagg Creek and Cermak Road.
- A $9.3 million contract to Lorig Construction Co., Des Plaines, IL, for roadway and bridge construction on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) at the new 88th/Cork Avenue Interchange.
- A $2.6 million contract to Path Construction Company Inc., Arlington Heights, IL, for structural rehabilitation work on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and the Illinois Route 390 Tollway.
- A $1.8 million contract to Areatha Construction Co. Inc., Streamwood, IL, for noisewall replacement near Ogden Avenue on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294).
- A $1.3 million contract to Hecker and Company Inc., Wheeling, IL, for material fabrication and storage for intelligent transportation systems (ITS) material on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) between 95th Street and Flagg Creek.
- A $1.2 million contract to Meru Corporation, Niles, IL, for utility relocation under the Union Pacific Railroad on the new I-490 Tollway.
- A $674,357 contract to Natural Creations Landscaping, Joliet, IL, for landscape planting improvements on the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355) between I-55 and Ogden Avenue.
February professional engineering services contracts awarded include:
- A $5 million contract to TranSystems Corporation, Schaumburg, IL, construction management services upon request systemwide.
- A $3 million contract to Patrick Engineering Inc., Lisle, IL, construction management services upon request on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294).
- A $3 million contract to ABNA Engineering Inc., Chicago, IL, for design services upon request on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294).
The February contracts approved today include four contractors and consultants and 40 subcontractors and subconsultants that are certified as disadvantaged, minority- and women-owned business enterprise (D/M/WBE) firms, as well as nine subcontractors and subconsultants that are certified veteran-owned firms. Commitments for D/M/WBE participation range from 21.21 percent to 65 percent per contract and commitments for veteran participation range from 1.52 percent to 6 percent per contract.
Illinois Tollway professional engineering services contracts are selected in accordance with the qualifications-based selection process (Illinois Public Act 87-673 (30 ILCS 535/1-535/80) Architectural, Engineering and Land Surveying Qualifications-Based Selection Act), which requires state agencies to select professional architects, engineers and surveyors based on demonstrated competence and professional qualifications. Construction contracts for Illinois Tollway projects are competitively bid under the rules of the Illinois Procurement Code. All contracts are presented to the Illinois Tollway Board of Directors for review and approval.
The Illinois Tollway broadcasts all public meetings on the Tollway’s website at www.illinoistollway.com. This includes all board meetings and public bid openings. Also provided is detailed information about current Tollway construction and professional engineering services contracts through the Construction Contract Tracker.
Contractors and consultants can also access resources online to help them learn about how to do business with the Tollway, including construction bid-letting schedules, professional service bulletins, manuals and construction bid calendars. These resources can be found in the “Doing Business” section of the Tollway’s website.
About Move Illinois
The Illinois Tollway’s 15-year, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, is improving mobility, relieving congestion, reducing pollution, creating as many as 120,000 jobs and linking economies throughout the region. The first 10 years of Move Illinois are on schedule and within budget, delivering the new Illinois Route 390 Tollway and a rebuilt and widened Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) with its new SmartRoad corridor, as well as opening a new interchange connecting the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to I-57. Progress continues on projects addressing the remaining needs of the existing Tollway system, delivering the new I-490 Tollway Project and reconstruction of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294).
About the Illinois Tollway
The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 294 miles of roadways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80) and the Illinois Route 390 Tollway.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Dan Rozek