Illinois Tollway Awards $41.4 Million in Construction and Engineering Services Contracts

Nearly $652.6 million approved in 2019 as part of the eighth year of the Move Illinois capital program

Downers Grove, IL, October 17, 2019 — The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors today approved four new construction and professional engineering services contracts totaling $41.4 million at its October meeting, including two contracts to advance design and construction of the new I-490 Tollway.

“This month we are investing more than $38 million to further our work to build the new I-490 Tollway,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director José Alvarez. “These contracts reflect the Tollway’s commitment to moving forward with the new roadway to improve mobility and create western access into O’Hare International Airport.”

Nearly $652.6 million in construction and professional engineering services contracts have been approved by the Tollway Board in 2019, as part of the eighth year of the Tollway’s 15-year, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future.

To date, nearly $7 billion has been invested by the Illinois Tollway since the Move Illinois Program began in 2012, with nearly $2 billion of that total committed to small, diverse and veteran-owned firms. In addition, the capital program has created or sustained an estimated 73,530 total jobs as of September 2019.

The contracts approved today include one prime consultant, seven subconsultants and seven subcontractors that are certified as disadvantaged, minority- and women-owned business enterprise (D/M/WBE) firms and two prime consultants, one subconsultant, as well as one subcontractor that are certified veteran-owned firms. Commitments for D/M/WBE participation range from 25 percent to 55 percent per contract and commitments for veteran participation range from two to 74 percent per contract.

Construction contracts awarded include:

  • A $33.5 million contract to Plote Construction Inc., Hoffman Estates, IL, for new mainline and ramp construction for the I-490 Tollway between Irving Park Road (Illinois Route 19) and the Illinois Route 390 Tollway.

Professional services contracts awarded include:

  • A $4.6 million contract to Wight & Company, Darien, IL/Orion Engineers, Chicago, IL, for construction management services on the new I-490 Tollway at Irving Park Road (Illinois Route 19).
  • A $2.5 million contract to Collins Engineers Inc., Chicago, IL, for construction management services for pavement and bridge preservation on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) between Rockton Road and the Kishwaukee River Bridge.
  • A $973,236 contract to Atlas Engineering Group, Northbrook, IL, for construction management services for reconstruction of the Stearns School Road Bridge on the Tri-State Tollway (I-94).

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 on the basis of 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 seven 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) and planning for emerging projects.

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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Contact: Dan Rozek