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Expressway litter removal weeks of June 12, June 19
The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that as part of ongoing efforts to keep roadsides, interchanges, ramps and shoulders clean of trash and debris, litter removal operations are scheduled to take place along the expressway system in Cook and the collar counties.
The following schedule is for daytime litter removal to take place intermittently during the weeks of June 12 and June 19. The locations are weather permitting and subject to change:
Eisenhower Expressway (Interstate 290)
· Austin Boulevard to Wells Street
Stevenson Expressway (Interstate 55)
· Harlem Avenue (Illinois 43) to DuSable Lake Shore Drive (U.S. 41)
Interstate 80, Interstate 355 to Kendall County Line
· Jefferson Street (U.S. 52) to I-355
Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90/94)
· Mannheim Road (U.S. 12) to Ida B. Wells Drive
Edens Expressway (Interstate 94)
· Kennedy junction to Clavey Road
Bishop Ford Expressway (Interstate 94)
· Cottage Grove to I-80
Dan Ryan Expressway (Interstate 90/94)
· Ida B. Wells to Interstate 57
Although lane closures will not be required, equipment and workers may be present on the shoulders. Motorists are asked to remain alert, slow down, move over and give maintenance teams space to work – it’s the law.
Similar operations will be taking place on a rotating basis across the region as weather permits and announced in advance.
In addition to dispatching its regular maintenance employees to pick up litter, IDOT has hired private firms to help with the frequency of trash removal and shoulder sweeping operations, while also filling gaps in coverage areas. Priority consideration is given to smaller companies seeking opportunities to participate on state projects and programs through the state’s Small Business Initiative.
While IDOT is committed to maintaining a positive impression of the state by keeping roadsides clean, the public can play a part as well. Remember: Think Before You Throw! Littering is a problem that’s easily controlled and preventable. Use a trash can instead.
Litter is more than just an eyesore – it has real, negative impacts on the environment and communities, while unnecessarily costing taxpayers millions of dollars a year. In 2022, IDOT spent approximately $26.5 million statewide on picking up litter, sweeping shoulders and removing large debris. That’s the equivalent of buying 143 maintenance trucks that also plow snow in winter or purchasing all of the salt IDOT spread during the past snow-and-ice season, with $1 million left to spare. It also could pay to resurface 13 miles of interstate.
6/9/2023 2:40 PM
(Updated 6/9/2023 2:40 PM)
Springfield: Public hearing June 13 on I-55 project
The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that a public hearing will be held Tuesday, June 13, on a proposed project to add lanes on Interstate 55 and Interstate 72 around Springfield. The estimated $802 million cost of the project includes reconstructing several interchanges.
The purpose of the hearing is to present the preferred design for the improvements and obtain feedback. The public is invited to review project plans, view exhibits, watch a video and discuss with IDOT staff and consultants. All interested parties are encouraged to attend:
Tuesday, June 13
4-7 p.m.
Northfield Inn Suites and Conference Center
3280 Northfield Drive, Springfield
Funding was approved through Gov. JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program for $150 million for the project’s first phase, which consists of adding capacity and making other improvements to I-55 from just north of Sangamon Avenue to the Williamsville weigh station. The improvements will connect to the wider I-55 north of Springfield, resulting in three lanes in each direction to Lincoln. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2024, starting with the bridges over the Sangamon River. A timeline for the project will be finalized in the coming months.
The remaining phases, estimated to cost more than $650 million, involve continuing with the third lane in each direction of I-55 and I-72 from just north of Sangamon Avenue to Veterans Parkway (Illinois 4), as well as reconstructing interchanges with Sixth Street/I-72, Stevenson Drive, South Grand Avenue, Clear Lake Avenue/I-72 and Sangamon Avenue. Additional work will occur on I-55 to Toronto Road to accommodate reconstruction of the Sixth Street/I-72 interchange. Funding for construction has not been identified.
“Improving I-55 and I-72 around Springfield will enhance safety, increase reliability and ease congestion,” said IDOT Region 4 Engineer Jeff Myers. “A lot of consideration and public input has gone into the design of this project. I encourage anyone interested in learning more about the future of Springfield to attend.”
Planning for the improvements started in 2011. The project could not advance, however, due to lack of funding, which was remedied with the passage of Rebuild Illinois in 2019.
For more information on the project, please click here. Comments may be submitted at the meeting or emailed to contact@i-55springfield.com. Comments may also be mailed to:
Illinois Department of Transportation, District 6
126 E. Ash St.
Springfield, IL 62704
Attn: Jon Kelley, P.E.
5/30/2023 11:37 AM
(Updated 5/30/2023 11:37 AM)
ILLINOIS TOLLWAY AWARDS NEARLY $23 million IN CONTRACTS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IN MAY
New contracts awarded support improvements on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294)
DOWNERS GROVE, IL – The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors today approved six construction and professional engineering contracts totaling nearly $23 million at its May Board meeting. More than $81 million in contracts has been approved by the Tollway Board in 2023, as part of the 12th year of the Tollway’s Move Illinois capital program.
To date, more than $10.6 billion has been invested by the Illinois Tollway since the Move Illinois Program began in 2012, with more than $2.7 billion of that total committed to small, diverse and veteran-owned firms. In addition, the capital program has created or sustained an estimated 120,770 total jobs as of April.
“This year, the Tollway is investing more than $600 million in contracts on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) that will continue our work to deliver improvements to better serve our customers and communities throughout the corridor,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “The ongoing Central Tri-State Project along with the new contracts approved today will keep construction industry firms busy and support good-paying jobs for their workers throughout this construction season.”
The May contracts approved today include 19 certified disadvantaged, minority- and women-owned business enterprise (D/M/WBE) firms, as well as six certified veteran-owned firms. Commitments for D/M/WBE participation range from 22.01 percent to 30 percent per contract and commitments for veteran participation range from 2.51 percent to 4 percent per contract.
May construction contracts awarded include:
An $8.9 million contract to Walsh Construction Company II, Chicago, IL, for improvements and pavement repairs at the 163rd Street Toll Plaza on the southbound Tri-State Tollway (I-294).
A $6.2 million contract to K-Five Construction Corp., Lemont, IL, for roadway asphalt overlay and pavement marking on the southbound Tri-State Tollway (I-294) between 95th Street and I-55.
A $2.9 million contract to Foundation Mechanics, Chicago, IL, for site and local road restoration related to the Mile Long Bridge Project on the Tri-State Tollway (I‑294).
A $1.1 million contract to Construction Inc., Lombard, IL, for building improvements at the 163rd Street Toll Plaza on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294).
A $409,585 contract to Semper Fi Yard Services Inc., Yorkville, IL, for landscape planting improvements on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) at the U.S. Route 20 Interchange.
May professional engineering services contracts awarded include:
· A $3 million contract to TranSmart, Chicago, IL, for design services for Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) deployment and management systemwide..
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 152,000 jobs and linking economies throughout the region. The first 11 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.
5/25/2023 4:34 PM
(Updated 5/25/2023 4:34 PM)
INDOT To Host Public Information Meetings For US 30 And US 31 Corridors
INDIANAPOLIS - May 22, 2023 – The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is hosting seven public information meetings as it continues the Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) studies along the US 30 and US 31 corridors in northern Indiana. The purpose of the meetings is to report on insights gained from the public thus far, share additional data gathered by the study teams and provide an overview of needs and desired outcomes.
Public information meetings will be held in each of the four study areas:
5/22/2023 3:21 PM
(Updated 5/22/2023 3:21 PM)
Illinois Tollway Issues $500 million in NEW Revenue Bonds
DOWNERS GROVE, IL – The Illinois Tollway today issued $500 million in Toll Highway Senior Revenue Bonds to help fund the agency’s ongoing Move Illinois capital program. This is the 11th new money bond issue offered by the Tollway since it launched the Move Illinois program in 2012.
The bonds were sold with fixed interest rates and maturities ranging from January 1, 2041, through January 1, 2045. The bonds were priced to produce yields to call ranging from 3.66 to 3.83 percent, and yields to maturity ranging from 4.10 to 4.38 percent.
“The Tollway maintains a strong financial position as revenues have returned to pre-pandemic levels and we have continued to carefully manage our Move Illinois capital program,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “This bond issue will help us deliver our remaining roadway improvements to our customers in a financially responsible manner.”
Proceeds from the Series 2023A revenue bonds will be used as part of the funding needed for Move Illinois projects including reconstructing and widening 22 miles of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and building the new I-490 Tollway to connect the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), the Illinois Route 390 Tollway and I-294 while also providing western access to O’Hare International Airport.
To date the Tollway has issued $4.8 billion of the approximately $6.3 billion in revenue bonds needed to help fund the Move Illinois Program. The remainder of the cost of the more than the authorized $14 billion program is expected to be financed by toll revenues.
Fitch Ratings, S&P Global and Moody’s Investors Service have assigned ratings of “AA-”, “AA-” and “Aa3”, respectively, to the agency’s Series 2023A senior revenue bonds.
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.
5/18/2023 5:03 PM
(Updated 5/22/2023 9:52 AM)
Spring 2023 Chicago River Bridge Lift Schedule
27 bridges to be raised in sequence from Ashland Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive
The spring 2023 Chicago bridge lifting continues until June 17th, with the raising of 27 bridges from South Ashland Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The annual bridge lifts allow recreational sailboats to safely move from boat storage to harbors in Lake Michigan. Saturday’s boat run will start at 8:00 a.m. with bridges raised sequentially. Each bridge lift takes an average of eight to 12 minutes.