The Illinois Tollway is creating new opportunities for small businesses to work on Tollway projects through its Job Order Contracting (JOC) Program – work related to electrical, flooring, HVAC, masonry, plumbing, roofing and other general construction projects at Tollway facilities throughout Northern Illinois.    “The new Small Business Initiative JOC for General Construction opens doors for more small companies to gain valuable experience working on Tollway projects,” said...

The Illinois Tollway continues to nurture the next generation of engineers and transportation industry professionals through its internship program.  “As part of our efforts to build a pipeline of future leaders, we are providing our interns with opportunities to gain practical, hands-on experience by applying their academic skills to ongoing programs, projects and initiatives,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “Our interns are working in collaboration with...

They’re a familiar sight on the Illinois Tollway, but the Highway Emergency Lane Patrol (H.E.L.P.) trucks are getting a new look and additional features to allow Tollway workers to more safely assist drivers, remove roadway debris and respond to traffic incidents. The Tollway is updating the vehicles with a high-visibility color scheme, adding new lighting and installing a plow-like tool that allows Tollway workers to remove roadway debris without leaving their vehicle.. The trucks,...

Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse joined the engineering project team for the Mile Long Bridge Project in accepting a National Recognition Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies at the annual ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards Gala earlier this month in Washington, D.C. The Mile Long Bridge Project was submitted by Bowman Consulting Group Ltd., which served as the construction manager, along with the design team of H.W. Lochner Inc., HDR Engineering...

It takes skill and specialized equipment to gently lift beams weighing up to 89 tons and measuring up to 145 feet long into place on a bridge the Illinois Tollway is building as part of its $4 billion reconstruction of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294). To make the job even more complex, the beams had to be carefully raised into place over Union Pacific Railroad tracks and Metra tracks, while minimizing any interruptions to rail service on the train tracks. That’s why the...

After launching a small engineering firm in 2017, Lisa Gasperec and her business partner, Megan Elberts, landed several contracts with the Illinois Tollway, working as subconsultants on projects that helped their four-person firm begin to grow. But they were still working to win their first Tollway job as a prime when they learned in 2021 of a new Tollway initiative designed to offer more opportunities for small and diverse businesses to manage projects as prime contractors while still...

Imagine I-PASS as an “all-access” pass on your travels on any toll road, tunnel or bridge from coast to coast. It may take several more years to make it a reality, but the tolling industry continues working toward national tolling interoperability, making all toll systems compatible with one another. “Nationwide interoperability will provide I-PASS customers a seamless network for fast, safe and convenient travel wherever they go,” said Illinois Tollway Chief of Business Systems...

7.7 million vehicles expected to travel Friday through TuesdayThe Illinois Tollway is encouraging drivers traveling over the Labor Day holiday weekend to make sure their I-PASS and Pay By Plate accounts are ready to go when they take to the road for end-of-summer trips.The Illinois Tollway expects 7.7 million vehicles will travel on its 294-mile system from Friday, September 1, through Tuesday, September 5. The heaviest travel is anticipated on Friday, September 1, when more than 1.9 million...

Working as supervisor at the Illinois Tollway’s M-14 maintenance site keeps Mike Velasco busy, but he still manages to find time for what’s become almost a second career—collecting and delivering food and other essentials to people in need. “I’ll help out whenever I have some spare time, whenever I can lend a hand, whether it’s after work on weekdays or on the weekends,” said Velasco, a 31-year veteran of the Tollway. He spends about 10 hours weekly volunteering with the River of...

The Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce calls its annual convention each August “a treasure trove of connections waiting to be explored” and the Illinois Tollway went all-out to tap into that wealth of connections.  “The Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce convention is an ideal place for the Illinois Tollway to find talented entrepreneurs and innovative businesses provide valuable goods and services,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “We offer...

Additional 24-hour road patrols bolster H.E.L.P. trucks and State Police Troop 15The Illinois Tollway is launching around-the-clock Hot Weather Patrols to more quickly locate and assist customers stranded along its roads during the dangerously high temperatures and humidity expected to continue through Thursday.The Illinois Tollway typically operates special Hot Weather Patrols whenever temperatures or heat indexes indicate conditions could be hazardous for stranded drivers. The 24-hour...

Free safety seat checks and kids ID cards at K.I.S.S. event at the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn Helping parents keep their children safe every trip, every time, the Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police Troop 15 are hosting a free Kids’ Identification and Safety Seat (K.I.S.S.) event on Saturday, August 26, at the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn. “K.I.S.S. events are a quick, easy and fun way for parents to protect their children by having safety seats inspected to ensure they...

The Illinois Tollway congratulates Illinois State Police Troop 15 for bringing home top honors in the annual Illinois Traffic Safety Challenge.  Troop 15, the troop that patrols the Illinois Tollway system, was awarded first place in the 2022/2023 challenge.  It was recognized for its approach and effectiveness in carrying out its highway safety programs, which are based on policies and procedures related to the vigorous enforcement of speed, occupant restraint, impaired...

The International Bridge, Tunnel & Turnpike Association’s annual Maintenance, Engineering and Roadway Operations Workshop is the place to be for industry professionals to take a deep dive into the tools and techniques that make roadway facilities more efficient, organizations better prepared and roadways safer. The Illinois Tollway had two of its experts on hand at the workshop to talk about innovations related to safety service patrols and the use of rights-of-way to provide...

The annual Illinois State Police Lt. Rich Kozik Memorial Park Motorcycle and Fun Car Run on Saturday, July 15, attracted a couple hundred motorcycle riders and began with a brief memorial ceremony at the Illinois Tollway headquarters in Downers Grove.  “The Illinois Tollway appreciates the work of Illinois State Police to keep our roadways safe for customers,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “This annual ride serves to honor the memory of those who have...

It’s only natural that Bryan Wagner would make Crain’s Chicago Business list of Notable Leaders in Sustainability. As the environmental policy and program manager for the Illinois Tollway, he is responsible for leading numerous environmental initiatives designed to preserve and protect natural resources throughout the 12 counties in Northern Illinois served by the 294-mile Tollway system as part of the $14 billion Move Illinois capital program. “Congratulations to Bryan Wagner for...

The Illinois Tollway and its workforce development partners reached out this week to a south suburban Chicago church community to promote career opportunities in highway construction through ConstructionWorks.The event at Victory Apostolic Church in Matteson attracted a mix of aspiring trades workers looking to launch new careers and experienced tradespeople looking for new opportunities. “The investments we’re making in our transportation infrastructure are creating opportunities for...

Helping parents keep their children safe every trip, every time, the Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police Troop 15 are hosting a free Kids’ Identification and Safety Seat (K.I.S.S.) event on Saturday, July 8, at the Prisco Community Center in Aurora. “K.I.S.S. events are a quick, easy and fun way for parents to protect their children by having safety seats inspected to ensure they are properly installed and by picking up free ID cards for their youngsters,” said Illinois Tollway...

The Illinois Tollway is urging drivers to slow down in construction work zones and avoid distracted driving when traveling this Fourth of July holiday. The Illinois Tollway expects 9.2 million vehicles to travel the system over the five-day Fourth of July holiday weekend between Friday, June 30 and Tuesday, July 4. The heaviest travel is expected on Friday, June 30 when 1.9 million vehicles are projected to use the 294-mile Tollway system. Traffic volume is expected to be lighter than...

The Illinois Tollway congratulates leaders from 17 firms graduating in June from its Technical Assistance Program administered by Inner-City Underwriting Agency. The business owners were recognized at a ceremony in Matteson for successfully completing a six-week estimating class that provided participants with skills that will help them submit more accurate and competitive construction-related bids. “We want to congratulate these business leaders for graduating from the Illinois...

The Illinois Tollway is building a pipeline of new engineers and transportation industry professionals through its internship program. “We are creating opportunities for our interns to gain real-world, on-the-job experience by applying their skills to ongoing programs, projects and initiatives,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “Illinois Tollway interns work side-by-side with some of the most knowledgeable professionals in the transportation industry, who serve...

“Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better.” This quote from Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Pat Riley inspires Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse in her day-to-day responsibilities as executive director of the Illinois Tollway. She talks about this and a wide variety of other topics with IBTTA Executive Director and CEO Pat Jones at Café IBTTA.  The June Café IBTTA interview with Rouse is one in a weekly webinar series of interviews hosted...

As executive director of the Illinois Tollway, Cassaundra Rouse serves as an inspiration and valuable resource to other women in the transportation industry.  With that in mind, the WTS Greater Chicago Chapter invited Rouse to serve as a member of its advisory board to help raise awareness of the organization’s mission to attract, sustain, connect and advance women’s careers to strengthen the transportation industry.  Members of WTS Greater Chicago Chapter represent...

Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse joined project teams in accepting National Recognition Awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies at the annual ACEE Engineering Excellence Awards Gala on June 13 in Washington, D.C. Three Illinois Tollway projects were recognized by ACEC for exceptional engineering excellence:Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway Bridge Project – submitted by Gannett Fleming, TranSystems and H.R. GreenTri-State Tollway...

Illinois Tollway roadway electrician Jon Cveticanin spends a lot of his free time walking through suburban cemeteries searching for the graves of military veterans. When he finds those graves, he doesn’t pay his respects to the fallen veterans with flowers, but with a weed whip and other lawn tools he uses to remove the overgrown grass and weeds that often obscure their headstones. He and his family, who have a history of military service, view their work as a way to honor the...

The Illinois Tollway has been recognized as having one of the nation’s best training programs for public safety telecommunications dispatchers.   The Tollway is one of only six public safety agencies in Illinois to have its dispatch training program certified by the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, which establishes industry standards for public safety professionals.  Nationwide, fewer than 1 percent of the nearly 9,000 public safety answering points...

The Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police Troop 15 are working to keep children safe every trip, every time by hosting free Kids’ Identification and Safety Seat (K.I.S.S.) events in 2023 to inspect and correctly install child safety seats and provide free kids’ ID cards. This year, six events are planned across the Chicago area, with the first scheduled for June 3 at the Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Boulevard, Glenview. For more information about K.I.S.S. events and to see...

With Memorial Day weekend and the summer travel season approaching, the Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police Troop 15 are urging parents to protect their children by checking safety seats to ensure they are correctly installed in their vehicles.This year, the Illinois Tollway expects nearly 8 million vehicles to kick off the summer travel season and drive the Tollway system during the Memorial Day weekend from Friday, May 26, through Tuesday, May 30. The busiest day...

The Illinois Tollway’s search for the most skilled, talented and qualified job candidates takes its talent acquisition staff to job fairs throughout Northern Illinois, from local hiring events to jobs fairs in the Rockford area, the South Side of Chicago and beyond.Illinois Tollway Pipeline Partner Liaison Jyoti Rao recently participated in a panel of H.R. recruiters at the workNet DuPage Career Conversation & Hiring Event in Lisle. The panel, which also included representatives from...

In 2009, after a decade of working as a civil engineer, Mae Whiteside Williams decided to bet on herself and launch her own engineering firm out of her home in Chicago’s Roseland Heights neighborhood. “Some people will say ‘well, that’s ludicrous,’ but I just thought I could do it and believed in myself,” Whiteside Williams said, recalling how she started the business with $700 and a laptop computer. Since then, CKL Engineers has grown into a successful small business with 28...

What’s the best way for high school students to find out if a career in the transportation industry is for them?  Put on hard hats and safety vests to get a close-up look at construction projects underway on the Illinois Tollway.“Giving students access to real-world construction projects taking place right in their back yards is the best way to inspire their ambitions and allow them to see opportunities for potential careers,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse....

When the Illinois Tollway began building a new state-of-the-art maintenance facility in Hoffman Estates, it also built a new path for a small stream crossing the property as part of a sophisticated drainage system that will help protect local water quality. Engineers realigned a small existing stream to add more turns and bends to slow the speed of water moving through it, which helps prevent pollutants or excess nutrients in stormwater from flowing off the site. As it commemorates...

Today, the Illinois Tollway recognizes Go Orange Day to show support for the men and women working on our roadways. We’re wearing orange for the maintenance workers, H.E.L.P. truck drivers, Illinois State Police troopers and construction workers who risk their lives every day to keep our roadways safe and well-maintained for motorists. We’re also wearing orange to honor those who have lost their lives in work zones. Everyone plays a role in work zone safety. Go Orange Day is part of National...

To train the Illinois Tollway’s Aurora (M-8) maintenance facility crew to safely and effectively do their jobs, M-8 Manager Brian Fuqua uses a tried-and-true technique he used when he was a high school football coach: circuit training. Just like athletes get conditioned by performing a variety of exercises, the 27 roadway maintenance workers at M-8 gear up for what can be a sometimes dangerous job by learning how to properly use their many tools and equipment and perform their duties in...

Reminding drivers that they play a critical role in maintaining safe work zones, the Illinois Tollway is joining other safety and transportation agencies, industry partners and construction workers to mark National Work Zone Awareness Week  With roadway construction occurring across Illinois, including nearly $1.5 billion the Tollway plans to invest in reconstructing and expanding its 294-mile system, drivers need to slow down, put away electronic devices and remember that “You play...

As roadway construction shifts into high gear, the Illinois Tollway is urging drivers to slow down and take extra precautions in work zones to protect themselves, construction and roadway workers, and emergency responders they’re likely to encounter while traveling this year on the Tollway system. To help highlight the need for extra vigilance in work zones, Tollway is joining with other transportation agencies, Illinois State Police, as well as construction and labor groups, to mark...

Diversity, equity and inclusion remain a top priority for the Illinois Tollway under the leadership of new Tollway Board Chairman Arnie Rivera. Rivera reaffirmed the Tollway’s commitment to helping small and diverse businesses grow and succeed at a recent Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting. The April 13 meeting in Chicago attracted more than 200 members. As the largest community of Hispanic business owners across Illinois and the Midwest, IHCC represents more...

Public safety dispatchers are often called the unsung heroes in headsets. They’re the calm voice in the dark. The thin gold line that connects the bold red and blue lines representing firefighters and police.  They are the first voice you hear when you call 911 for emergency assistance and they play a critical role in helping people in times of urgent need. The Illinois Tollway each year recognizes its telecommunicators for their vital contributions to public safety on its...

When Jennifer Kelecius and a business partner launched Foundation Mechanics in 2011, they mostly did consulting work for another company, then began doing a variety of smaller construction and landscaping projects.The firm continued with only a handful of employees until 2016 when Kelecius won an Illinois Tollway contract under a small business set-aside program to serve as the prime contractor on a $1.4 million project to make landscaping improvements along a 30-mile stretch of the Jane...

They paint walls, construct offices, lay carpeting and even repair broken door locks at 200 buildings and garages across the Illinois Tollway system.The 12 carpenters and 4 painters who staff the Tollway’s Carpenter Shop “do it all—whatever needs to be done,” said Chief Facilities Officer Dave Donovan.What they didn’t do last year was suffer any on-the-job injuries—a notable accomplishment considering the range and complexity of the work they do, as well as the variety of tools they use.“I’m...

Illinois Tollway finances are in the hands of a woman recognized as one of the best in the business. Crain’s Chicago Business named Tollway Chief Financial Officer Cathy Williams among its “2023 Notable CFOs” for her accomplishments at the agency, leadership in the finance industry and active role in her community. “Congratulations to Cathy Williams for being recognized by Crain’s for her impressive, dedicated work as our chief financial officer,” said Illinois Tollway Executive...

Last-chance discounts now offered on outstanding invoices alongside fee dismissal for income-eligible customers enrolled in I-PASS Assist.After an overwhelmingly successful amnesty program, a broad expansion of the I-PASS Assist program and completion of complex technological changes required to restructure the Illinois Tollway’s violation enforcement program, the Illinois Tollway reminds customers that unpaid tolls may result in the issuance of violation notices. “It is important to...

Senior Project Manager Rick Hanba loves seeing his work as a civil engineer transform from concept to reality.  Community Relations Manager Lauren Platt enjoys using her skills to solve a variety of issues in collaboration with others. Their advice for students at Grant Community High School in Fox Lake? A career at the Illinois Tollway offers many exciting possibilities.  Grant Community High School in Fox Lake invited the Tollway to come talk to students at its...

Always looking to adopt new technologies available in the transportation industry, the Illinois Tollway is increasingly turning to cutting-edge tools such as 3D modeling, intelligent transportation systems in planning, designing and building roads and bridges.  So, when Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse and new Board Chairman Arnie Rivera met with the Tollway’s Diversity Advisory Council, they embraced the opportunity to seek input on ways to prepare small, diverse and...

A quick, money-saving way for drivers to pay their tolls and avoid any fees or fines now is as close as their smartphone. It’s the Official Illinois Tollway App, which lets drivers use their phones or mobile devices to easily update or manage their I-PASS accounts, including adding or purchasing transponders, adding or changing payment methods and managing rental vehicle or new vehicles.Drivers who don’t have I-PASS can use the app to create a Pay By Plate account that automatically pays...

In his 10 years working in various customer service positions at the Illinois Tollway, Messenger Services Supervisor Bryant Rule is used to helping others. And, it carries over into his life outside the Tollway where he serves as one of the pastors with the Church of God in Christ in Northern Illinois. “I believe in relationships,” says Rule. “Whatever you can do to help someone along the way, that’s what you do.”So, when Rule met Terry Miller, the Tollway’s chief of Diversity and...

There are more career opportunities available in the transportation industry than just engineers, planners and traffic managers. There are also opportunities in traditional office professions such as IT, HR and finance, as well as in warehouse positions and the skilled trades. That’s why the Illinois Tollway is offering college students and recent graduates summer internships in a variety of departments, as well as full-year internships in engineering and business systems. Eligible...

They continuously patrolled 37 miles of roadway, assisting drivers and clearing crash scenes, operated snowplows and other heavy equipment and staffed shifts around the clock—all without sustaining a single on-the-job injury in 2022. The Illinois Tollway is honoring the roadway workers at the DeKalb M-11 maintenance site for their outstanding safety record last year. The DeKalb maintenance site on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) was the only one among the Tollway’s 12 maintenance...

The Illinois Tollway congratulates all the firms behind the four Tollway projects earning 2023 Engineering Excellence Awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois. Tri-State Tollway (I-294)/I-57 Interchange – T.Y. Lin (T.Y. Lin International) and Wight & Co. (Wight & Company)BNSF Railway Bridge over I-294 – Gannett Fleming (Gannett Fleming), TranSystems (TranSystems) and H.R. Green (HR Green, Inc.)Gantry System for Mile Long Bridge on I-294 – Collins Engineers...

More income-eligible drivers are receiving the cost-saving benefits of I-PASS after signing up for I-PASS Assist Accounts that also offer few up-front costs.The number of active I-PASS Assist accounts has more than quadrupled to more than 12,200, as a result of ongoing Illinois Tollway outreach efforts since enhancing the program in 2022.  Working through a partnership with the Illinois Department of Revenue, the Tollway is able to verify the eligibility of households for I-PASS...

Pictured (from L to R): Deputy Chief of Program Implementation Sarah Kukadia, Chief Financial Officer Cathy Williams,  Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Donoghue, Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse, Chief Engineering Officer Manar Nashif; Chief Information Officer Michael Shay and Deputy Chief of Program Implementation Jeffrey Allen. Illinois Tollway leadership and staff were on hand at the Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO) Annual Meeting in Schaumburg to receive the...

The Forest Preserve District of Will County presented its 2022 “Appreciation for Partners” award to the Illinois Tollway at its Board of Commissioners meeting on February 9 in Joliet. Each year, the Forest Preserve District selects its award honoree from dozens of organizations that support its mission to protect and enhance Will County’s natural and cultural resources for the benefit of current and future generations. This year, the Illinois Tollway was selected for its...

Along with rows of shining semi tractor-trailers, fancy travel accessories and even chiropractic services, the Illinois Tollway was a popular attraction at the Mid-West Truck & Trailer Show in Peoria. Hundreds of visitors stopped by the Tollway booth at the regional show this month to talk to agency staff and get information about popular toll-paying programs, including I-PASS and Pay By Plate. “It’s another way for us to reach out to our customers,” said Chief Planning Officer...

When he decided to pursue Illinois Tollway contracts in hopes of expanding his two-person engineering firm, Charles Frangos thought it would help to get some guidance from a more established business already familiar with Tollway procedures and projects.  So in 2016, Frangos—a professional engineer and U.S. Navy veteran--enrolled his year-old firm, Orion Engineers, in the Tollway’s Partnering for Growth Program, which pairs small, diverse and veteran-owned businesses working as...

The WTS Greater Chicago Chapter hosted a networking event recognizing the Illinois Tollway including Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse in her new leadership position. The event provided an opportunity for Tollway leadership to connect with about 100 members of WTS Greater Chicago, which promotes the development and advancement of women transportation professionals in the public and private sectors and students pursuing careers in the transportation industry. Pictured: Cassaundra Rouse...

The Illinois Tollway has a well-established track record of being prepared for extreme weather, earning it the distinction of being certified StormReady by the National Weather Service. “The Illinois Tollway is ready at any given moment to respond to any type of extreme weather to keep customers safe on our roadways,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “Safety is a top priority for the Tollway and we have developed comprehensive, proactive plans and procedures to...

The Illinois Tollway is kicking off the New Year with a new look for its Highway Emergency Lane Patrol (H.E.L.P.) trucks. The new look introduces GEICO as the new, exclusive sponsor of the Tollway’s roadway assistance program for customers in need.   “The Illinois Tollway is pleased to launch this partnership with GEICO that supports our vital roadside assistance service for customers on our roadways,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “Safety is always...

The Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO) named the Tri-State Tollway (I-294)/I-57 Interchange Project its Project of the Year award winner in the infrastructure category.  CISCO’s annual Pride in Construction Award Program recognizes top-quality union construction projects, with entries judged on the project’s positive impact on the community, safety record, quality of construction and design.  “The Illinois Tollway takes great pride in the completion of the...

The Illinois Tollway is prepared to deploy its full fleet of 196 snowplows in response to a winter storm moving into the area Thursday and likely continuing through Friday, possibly bringing heavy snowfall and strong winds that could affect roadway conditions and reduce visibility, hampering drivers during their daily commutes and holiday travels. The Tollway’s Snow Operations Center will be open to manage the agency’s systemwide response to the storm.“Our top priority during this storm will...

The Illinois Tollway is prepared for this holiday season and working to help customers take some of the stress out of holiday travel during Hanukkah and the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holidays through I-PASS benefits and roadway customer service efforts.The heaviest traffic is expected on Wednesday, December 21, and Thursday, December 22, when nearly 1.7 million vehicles each day are projected to travel on the 294-mile Tollway system. Nearly 1.3 million vehicles are expected to...

Continuing the Tollway’s annual tradition of supporting Toys for Tots, Illinois Tollway employees jumped in this holiday season to help Santa by bringing piles of toys, stuffed animals, games and sports equipment to Tollway headquarters for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve program.Thanks to their efforts, more than 650 toys were collected in December to help ensure all children have a Merry Christmas in the Chicagoland area.Tollway workers located across our 294-mile system, including those...

Officials from the Illinois Tollway, Western Springs and Hinsdale announced that walkers, runners and bikers will have access to the new Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Pedestrian Bridge adjacent to 47th Street on Wednesday, December 14. The Illinois Tollway is turning over the new pedestrian bridge crossing to local officials ahead of schedule, offering a new convenient connection between Veeck Park and Spring Rock Park and community pathways for pedestrians and bicyclists. “We...

Approximately 1,500 industry and agency professionals gathered at the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association 85th Annual Meeting and Holiday Party in Rosemont on December 8 to celebrate successful projects completed in 2022.“Many of the firms here today played an integral role in delivering key projects in our Move Illinois Program,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “The firms we’re recognizing distinguished themselves by bringing high-quality work,...

Greater emphasis on advancing equity is increasingly playing a role in the future of transportation infrastructure in Northern Illinois.  “The Illinois Tollway is delivering our Move Illinois capital program with diversity, equity and inclusion in mind while working to ensure that the work and improvements made have minimal impact on the environment,” Tollway Board Chair Dorothy Abreu told nearly 200 members of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at a breakfast meeting in...

There is often no shortage of free financial advice available to entrepreneurs from relatives and friends. But you often get what you pay for. “Don’t take any wooden nickels.”“The best way to make a small fortune is to start with a large one.” “One word… plastics.” The Illinois Tollway, recognizing the challenges that small and diverse construction and professional engineering services firms face in getting solid financial advice, recently hosted its first “Building the Road to...

Tollway reminds drivers to Move Over for any vehicle with flashing lights on the roadside! The Illinois Tollway expects as many as 8.7 million vehicles with Thanksgiving travelers to drive the Tollway system during this year’s extended holiday and reminds drivers to follow the Move Over Law when traveling.  Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Wednesday, November 23, through Monday, November 28, the heaviest travel is expected on Wednesday when nearly 1.8 million vehicles are...

A lot has changed since the last time the Illinois Tollway hosted an in-person Move Illinois Quarterly meeting in September 2019. Major projects have been completed, including the Mile Long Bridge and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Bridge projects on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294), as well as the Tri-State Tollway (I-294)/I-57 Interchange Project. Two new maintenance facilities were built. Tolling reforms were instituted. Pay by Plate rolled out. I-PASS Assist expanded....

The Illinois Tollway, entering the 12th year of its 15-year, $14 billion Move Illinois capital program, continues to make strategic investments in its transportation infrastructure. Foremost among these investments in 2023 is continuing work to rebuild and widen the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) from 95th Street to Balmoral Avenue and to build the new I-490 Tollway along the west side of O’Hare International Airport. At the same time, the Tollway continues working to ensure that...

With snow and ice touching much of the state this week, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and Illinois Tollway are reminding the public that it’s time for “Winter Weather – Get it Together.” Because of the nationwide shortage of commercial vehicle drivers impacting staffing levels on winter operations teams throughout Illinois and the Midwest, planning and preparation, as well as patience and understanding, will be needed more than ever from motorists this...

When a crash temporarily closed the westbound lanes on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) in McHenry County, a driver veered around four Illinois Tollway trucks stopping traffic, only to slam into another Tollway truck assisting with the crash cleanup.That incident was just one of the 29 times this year that drivers have struck a Tollway vehicle, a number that is up by over 30% from last year. It’s a dangerous problem—not just for roadway workers and emergency responders, but for drivers...

The regional transportation network in Northern Illinois is continuously growing, improving and evolving to meet the current and future needs of the traveling public. So, having leadership from the Illinois Tollway and other major transportation agencies gathered together in one place is a great opportunity for transportation industry professionals to learn about what’s coming up and gain perspective on how all the upcoming improvements fit together. “We will continue to look to...

Registration now open with presentations and resources from leading financial institutions on financial best practices, access to capital, and small business growth strategies The Illinois Tollway is hosting a Building the Road to Success: Financial Planning for Small Businesses event in Chicago this week to share advice and resources to support small diverse and minority-owned companies with financial management and capital development necessary to succeed in the heavy highway...

The *999 motorist assistance program plays an important role in keeping Illinois motorists safe and traffic moving efficiently. As of October 1, the responsibility for fielding *999 calls is with The Chicago Lighthouse, a social service organization that assists those who are visually impaired, disabled or military veterans.“The *999 service is vital to quickly identifying and responding to roadway incidents with the appropriate resources and we are pleased to have The Chicago Lighthouse...

Illinois Tollway telecommunicators are used to handling emergencies and sending help—they answer 911 calls and other requests for assistance from drivers using the Tollway system. But staffers at the Tollway dispatch center recently responded to an emergency situation far from the Tollway system, assisting a 911 center in a Florida county slammed in September by Hurricane Ian. They couldn’t dispatch H.E.L.P. trucks or police assistance, but Tollway telecommunications staffers dipped...

Area high school seniors recently visited several construction sites on the Illinois Tollway system to gain real-world knowledge of what it takes to build roads and bridges.  “This is another way for us to engage the next generation of engineering and transportation industry professionals,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse, who met with students at the Mile Long Bridge Project on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294).  “This and future construction site...

An 83-foot-long portable steel safety barrier used by the Illinois Tollway to shield roadway and emergency workers from fast-moving traffic is catching the eye of drivers—and of transportation officials in other states.The sheer size and visibility of the bright yellow barrier, which includes a rear electronic message board to alert drivers to road repairs or traffic incidents, encourages drivers to slow down and steer clear of it as they approach, Tollway officials said.Transportation...

The Illinois Tollway’s Toll Operations team is always looking for ways to liven up the workplace, but recently their team used their casual, themed Fridays to call out a cause near to many - October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our team has done a great job coming in to the office to serve our customers,” said Chief of Toll Operations Pat Taylor. “So, dress-up Fridays is a great way to build a greater sense of camaraderie and make coming into work more...

The Illinois Tollway may need a bigger trophy case just for TIMS2GO.   The TIMS2GO mobile incident response tool was recognized by Government Technology magazine as one of its 10 top award winners in the operations category for its National Innovation Showcase. The operations category focuses on public agencies that use innovative technologies to improve internal operations. Recognition for TIMS2GO by Government Technology is part of the online publication’s annual Special...

The Illinois Tollway recognizes the value of investing for the future, whether it’s building new roads or bridges to improve mobility or adopting new technologies to better manage traffic. Such investments were highlighted at the 71st Annual Illinois Traffic and Engineering Safety Conference hosted by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. The annual TES conference is considered the premier meeting in the Midwest for...

Balanced spending plan allocates more than $1.55 billion in annual revenue and supports more than $1.47 billion for capital program.The Illinois Tollway introduced a balanced Tentative 2023 Budget with $1.55 billion of revenue today that includes $426.5 million for annual maintenance and operations on the 294-mile system and provides funds to support $1.47 billion in capital spending, including funding for the 12th year of the agency’s 15-year, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois:...

The reconstruction of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway Bridge faced numerous challenges.  It’s one of the busiest railway bridges in the region. It crosses one of the busiest sections of interstate highway in Northern Illinois. And its surrounded on three sides by public parks and, on the fourth side, a public works facility.  To overcome those challenges and deliver the reconstruction on time and within budget took careful planning, close coordination with...

Illinois Tollway projects and initiatives are playing in Peoria!  About 300 transportation engineers came down to the River City for the annual fall conference hosted by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois to hear updates on the latest transportation topics.  Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse and Deputy Chief of Program Implementation Sarah Kukadia detailed construction of the new Tri-State Tollway (I-294)/I-57 Interchange and its subsequent...

The final Kids Identification and Safety Seat (K.I.S.S.) event of the year drew parents and their children to Itasca in September, wrapping up the Operation Kid 2022 safety program hosted by the Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police.But the Tollway and Illinois State Police already are looking to expand the popular K.I.S.S. safety program in 2023, which resumed this year following a two-year pause forced by the COVID-19 pandemic.“We’re thrilled we could resume this program this year and...

The Illinois Tollway is preparing to open the new southbound Mile Long Bridge to traffic next week, completing the second phase of the $500 million construction project to deliver the new twin-structure bridge as part of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project.  “The reopening of the Mile Long Bridge is a testament to the hard work of the people who made the timely completion of this project a reality,” said Governor JB Pritzker.  “Replacing outdated bridges throughout...

Looking for a new career path while working for a large consulting firm, Deepi Ahuja saw an opportunity to take a different road that led her back to her roots in the construction industry.Already an engineer, Ahuja—whose family has owned a construction company for decades--started her own construction business in 2018 to fill a specialized niche: Doing excavating work and installing underground water and sewer lines.“I was looking to shift gears and try something different,” Ahuja recalled....

Wrapping up Operation Kid 2022, the Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police District 15 are hosting a final Kids Identification and Safety Seat (K.I.S.S.) event on Saturday, September 24, at the Itasca Fire Protection District in Itasca.The K.I.S.S. event coincides with Seat Check Saturday, a national campaign promoted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to encourage the proper use of child safety seats to help prevent deaths and injuries in vehicle crashes.The Tollway...

The final segment of the new I-294/I-57 Interchange has yet to open but it’s already helped steer millions of square feet of new commercial development to the Chicago Southland communities around it, which in turn have generated thousands of new jobs in the region. New warehouses, logistics centers and manufacturing firms—an estimated 15 million square feet of new commercial space--began popping up following the 2014 opening of the first phase of the interchange project and in...

The Illinois Tollway is encouraging drivers traveling over the Labor Day holiday weekend to slow down, be courteous to other motorists and make safety their No. 1 priority when they take to the road so they can safely reach their destinations.Nearly 7.7 million vehicles are anticipated to travel on the 294-mile Illinois Tollway system from Friday, September 2, through Tuesday, September 6. The heaviest traffic is anticipated on Friday, when more than 1.8 million vehicles are expected on the...

When he started Allstate Concrete Cutting more than 10 years ago, Mike Seay operated out of a cramped, 3,500-square-foot shop and relied on a workforce of about 8 employees, who primarily removed old concrete from roads and bridges so they could be rebuilt or replaced.This year, he’s employing about 45 workers who are involved in a number of projects on the Illinois Tollway system, including removing old concrete on a portion of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294), taking down the Hinsdale...

The Illinois Tollway typically stays in its lane when talking about ongoing construction projects. But the opportunity to do a joint presentation with two of the nation’s largest railroads at one of the biggest rail industry conferences was just the ticket to spotlight the Tollway’s cooperation with railroads to keep the I-490 Tollway Project on track.The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association’s 2022 Conference & Expo offers railway engineering professionals...

The Illinois Tollway’s Roadway Maintenance team received the American Public Works Association 2022 Technical Innovation Award in August for its TIMS2GO Mobile Incident Response Tool. TIMS2GO was highlighted among this year’s APWA Award winners in the August issue of the APWA Reporter magazine. The Technical Innovation Award recognizes the development, management and implementation of a creative idea, program, process or system that enhances the delivery of public works services to...

When Illinois Tollway road worker Keith Olson reached the crash on the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), he faced a chaotic scene that included an SUV flipped on its side and a crumpled convertible with flames six feet high shooting from its hood. A third heavily damaged vehicle sat nearby.  “It was a bad one,” said Olson, who was the first emergency responder to reach the July 22 crash near Roosevelt Road. “I had a car on fire on the right shoulder, and it was spun around so it was pointing...

The Illinois Tollway welcomed an invitation from the American Contract Compliance Association (ACCA) to showcase its Partnering For Growth Program at this year’s National Training Institute in North Carolina.  ACCA is committed to empowering professionals in their fields of expertise and ensuring equitable employment and contracting practices within the public and private sectors.  During the 2022 American Contract Compliance Association National Training Institute,...

The Traffic Safety Challenge is a friendly competition among Illinois law enforcement agencies to annually highlight the great work they’re doing in their communities to successfully identify traffic issues and implement strategies to reduce crashes and related deaths and injuries.   It’s also a chance to compete for bragging rights.  Illinois State Police District 15, the district that patrols the Illinois Tollway system, can boast it is one of the top law enforcement...

Continuing Operation Kid 2022, the Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police District 15 are hosting a Kids Identification and Safety Seat (K.I.S.S.) event on Saturday, August 27, at the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn. The Tollway and District 15 have worked together to promote child safety for more than 15 years, holding popular events annually throughout Northern Illinois to provide free kids’ ID cards and inspect and install child safety seats. In 2019, Operation Kid helped families...

On the surface, there may not be a lot of similarities between Hawaii and Illinois. But when QRSE LLC was looking for opportunities to expand its engineering business beyond the Hawaiian Islands, it chose to open an office 4,000-some miles away in the Land of Lincoln.  Recently, QRSE Founder and President Kai Nani Kraut identified the Illinois Tollway’s Partnering for Growth Program as a viable path to continue expanding her business in Illinois. She sees the program, which...

It’s been said that engineering is the art and science of nuts and bolts.   So, it was with great interest that a group from the American Society of Civil Engineers, Illinois Section, welcomed Illinois Tollway Interim Executive Director Lanyea Griffin to dig into some of the unique engineering aspects of ongoing Tollway projects.   More than 120 transportation engineers flocked to the luncheon hosted by the ASCE Illinois Transportation and Development Institute, a...

Illinois Tollway leadership gathered recently with members of its Diversity Advisory Council over breakfast to discuss ongoing diversity initiatives and the positive impact they’re having for small, diverse and veteran-owned firms throughout the region.  Tollway Director and Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair Jackie Gomez and Interim Executive Director Lanyea Griffin thanked members of the Diversity Advisory Council for their support in advancing the agency’s diversity...

Excessive speeding remains a serious issue on Illinois roadways and across the country. That’s why the Illinois Tollway joined with the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and other state law enforcement agencies to promote Speed Awareness Day. Interim Tollway Executive Director Lanyea Griffin urged drivers to slow down, especially in work zones as major construction is ongoing across the Illinois Tollway system. She cautioned that speeding not only endangers the...

Honoring those who gave their lives serving others, the Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police this month dedicated a new granite memorial to fallen ISP District 15 troopers and Tollway workers who have died in the line of duty. “We’ve created a permanent, fitting memorial that commemorates the dedication of the Tollway workers and Illinois State Police troopers who lost their lives serving and protecting the drivers who use our roads,” said Illinois Tollway Lanyea Griffin. “We will...

Dan Rojas feels at home when he drives on the Illinois Tollway system because his asphalt paving company has done so much work as a subcontractor on Tollway reconstruction projects over the last few years.His small business, Metromex Contractors Inc., worked on the interchange that will link the new I-490 Tollway with the Jane Addams Tollway (I-90) in the Northwest suburbs. It’s working on the final stage of a new interchange that will connect the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) with I-57 in the...

The crew at the Illinois Tollway’s Aurora (M-8) maintenance facility doesn’t start each day with a morning meeting; they call it “church” because it’s where they preach about the importance of safety. “We call it ‘church,’ but it’s more like a pre-game pep talk for our team,” says M-8 Manager Brian Fuqua, a former high school football and wrestling coach. “We try to make them feel good before they go out, make sure they have their heads in the game.”Fuqua preaches the importance of...

With tax season over, a group of more than 100 Chicago-area tax professionals turned their attention from 1040s to 294 in May – as in Interstate 294. The Chicago Tax Club recently invited the Illinois Tollway to provide an in-depth look at the $4 billion Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project during its annual joint meeting with the Council on State Taxation in Rolling Meadows. Deputy Chief of Program Implementation Peter Foernssler, who is responsible for leading the I-294...

Black leaders in local and state government gathered recently to hear from area transportation officials about funding plans for infrastructure projects and opportunities for diverse firms and individuals to participate in those projects, as well as in leadership positions at those agencies. The National Forum for Black Public Administrators, Chicago Chapter, hosted an Executives in Transportation and Infrastructure panel discussion attracting more than 80 NFBPA members to the June 28...

The Society of American Military Engineers, Lake Michigan Post, brought together a broad range of government agency officials to discuss the impact of the federal stimulus on the regional transportation network and the highway construction industry. About 75 military and civilian engineering and construction industry professionals attended the 15th annual SAME LMP Industry Day event recently in Lake Forest to hear from officials from federal, state and local agencies. The lineup for...

The Illinois Tollway is urging drivers to slow down in construction work zones and avoid distracted driving when traveling this Fourth of July holiday. The Tollway expects 9.6 million vehicles to travel the Tollway system over the long Fourth of July holiday weekend. The heaviest travel is expected on Thursday, June 30, and Friday, July 1, when 1.9 million vehicles are projected to use the 294-mile Tollway system each day. On an average day, more than 1.6 million vehicles use the...

A better understanding of the various types of certifications accepted for different types of Tollway contracts – construction, professional engineering services and goods and services – can be a game-changer for small and diverse firms, opening up contract opportunities that they may not have known they could pursue. Tollway Chief of the Department of Diversity and Strategic Development Terry Miller, Chief of Contract Compliance Angela Arrington-Jones and Deputy Chief of Contract...

The Illinois Tollway has further expanded its I-PASS Assist program to include additional fee dismissal for low-wage working families.  “Over the last several years, the Tollway has reworked its entire model to improve the disparate impact fines and fees have on working families,” said Illinois Tollway Interim Executive Director Lanyea Griffin.  “The changes we’re advancing today will help prevent working families from carrying the burden of fines and fees that too often affects...

Cloudy skies and rain showers couldn’t keep families from flocking to the first Kids Identification and Safety Seat (K.I.S.S.) event hosted by the Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police since the COVID-19 pandemic forced a two-year pause in the popular summer safety program.The June 4 event at Kohl Children’s Museum in Glenview allowed parents to obtain free ID cards for their young children and have the child safety seats in their vehicles installed or inspected to ensure they are...

New access poised to fuel economic development and congestion relief in Justice and neighboring communities State and local leaders met today to highlight the long-awaited start of construction on the 88th Cork Avenue Interchange on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), one of the top projects in the state’s Competitive Freight Program aimed at improving the movement of freight and delivering congestion relief and economic benefits across the state. “Connecting communities and providing...

The Illinois Tollway expects 7.7 million vehicles to kick off summer with a trip on the Tollway system this Memorial Day weekend between Friday, May 27, and Tuesday, May 31 – a nearly 2 percent increase over last year. “As people begin their summer travels, starting with this Memorial Day holiday weekend, we want to remind drivers to keep their focus on the road and slow down in work zones,” said Illinois Tollway Interim Executive Director Lanyea Griffin. “As a reminder, non-I-PASS...

Nearly 300 transportation industry professionals took the opportunity to meet with the Illinois Tollway’s new leadership duo recently to hear about the Tollway’s priorities and coming projects.Illinois Tollway Chairwoman Dorothy Abreu and Interim Executive Director Lanyea Griffin met for the first time with members of the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association at the IRTBA General Membership Meeting in Lombard. Abreu and Griffin shared their vision for the Tollway,...

Sprawling construction along the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and on the new I-490 Tollway is drawing the attention of drivers and media outlets.It’s hard to miss—towering cranes and massive backhoes are common sights for drivers as the Illinois Tollway invests nearly $1.5 billion in 2022 to improve and expand its system, with much of that work occurring along I-294, where the agency is widening and reconstructing 22 miles of roadway between Rosemont and Oak Lawn.More work is underway to...

The Illinois Tollway Edens Spur Tollway (I-94) Project will be recognized nationally by the American Council of Engineering Companies for exemplary engineering achievement in 2022.The Edens Spur Project will receive a Special Recognition Award from ACEC National. The project was eligible for the national award after receiving a 2022 Honor Award from ACEC Illinois.The Illinois Tollway completed reconstructing the Edens Spur from Pfingsten Road to the Edens Expressway in November 2020. The...

The Illinois Tollway’s TIMS2GO mobile incident response tool has earned the American Public Works Association’s 2022 Technical Innovation Award. The national award recognizes the development, management and implementation of a creative idea, program, process or system that enhances the delivery of public works services to the public. TIMS2GO measures up to those standards. The unique mobile app puts all the intelligent transportation system resources of the Illinois Tollway...

Looking for ways to contribute or engage in this year’s Earth Day?  Here are some ideas from across the region.  Also, take a moment to read about the Tollway’s fulfillment of our commitment to plant 58,000 trees as a part of our Move Illinois landscape master plan, as well as our significant investments in the region’s wetlands.  Find an event a get engaged!  ChicagoRotary Earth Day Cleanup at Grant Park in Chicago - Chicago ParentThe Insect Asylum- Earth Day Celebration...

In partnership with Inner-City Underwriting Agency Inc. and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois Tollway is relaunching its Technical Assistance Program to help small, diverse and veteran-owned firms learn how to succeed in doing business with the Tollway.The Tollway will host a series of events for local businesses and community leaders to network with representatives from the Technical Assistance providers and the Tollway at several locations throughout the Chicago area...

Another historic year of construction means extra attention required at all times. With construction season ramping up across the state, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, Illinois Tollway, industry partners and frontline construction workers joined forces today for National Work Zone Awareness Week. During another historic year of construction in Illinois, the public is urged to put down the devices, keep their eyes on the road at all times and remember...

Illinois Tollway projects aren’t always about roads and bridges; some Tollway projects are about wetlands, woodlands and recreational trails. When infrastructure projects intersect with nature, however, transportation agencies are required to mitigate the impact on the local environment and in many cases restore and replace any impacted waters and wetlands affected by a project.  The Tollway’s investment in the Lake County Forest Preserves’ Pine Dunes serves as an excellent example...

As part of its ongoing effort to protect customers’ privacy, the Illinois Tollway supported legislation aimed at preventing the release of customer information, as well as the requirement to notify customers when their information is subpoenaed in a non-emergency or civil case.   “We are committed to protecting the privacy of our customers, and we support any legislation that will help us achieve that goal,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director José Alvarez. “This legislation...

Hoy Illinois Tollway abrió la inscripción al programa I-PASS Assist, el cual incorpora grandes mejoras para permitir que los clientes disfruten de los beneficios de I-PASS. El programa tiene como objetivo garantizar que todos los residentes de Illinois puedan obtener y, aún más importante, conservar los beneficios económicos de un transpondedor de I-PASS mientras viajan en las autopistas de Illinois Tollway.“Las comunidades en Illinois confían en nuestras rutas y autopistas para trasladarse...

Illinois Tollway aims to ensure everyone is able to attain and retain the benefits of I-PASSThe Illinois Tollway today opened enrollment to a significantly enhanced I-PASS Assist program to help customers realize the benefits of I-PASS.  The program’s aim is to ensure all Illinois residents are able to both attain, and more importantly retain, the financial benefits of using an I-PASS transponder when traveling on the Illinois Tollway system.  “Communities across Illinois rely on...

At the Illinois Tollway, the start of every good construction project begins with coordination with local communities. Reaching out to counties and communities when project planning begins provides the opportunity for the Tollway to ensure all are aware of potential impacts to local roads. It also opens the door to coordinate improvements and cost sharing, making public funds go farther.     This summer, the Tollway’s work includes coordinated efforts to rebuild two local...

Cruising along the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) at night, it’s impossible to miss the brilliant LED lights that illuminate the road to make driving safe and easy. What’s less noticeable to drivers as they pass the evenly spaced light poles—all set about 75 yards apart—is that not all of the poles are the same height. While virtually all of the light poles in the center median between Elgin and Rockford stand 50 feet tall—two in rural Boone County are dramatically...

Things just got brighter for I-PASS customers heading down to Florida: I-PASS is now accepted on all toll roads in the Sunshine State. The Florida Turnpike joins the Central Florida Expressway Authority as part of the E-ZPass Group.So, whether you’re driving down to visit a theme park in Orlando, go fishing or golfing along the Gulf coast in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, lie on a beach in Miami or watch a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, you can take I-PASS with you on all your...

In the eight short months since the Illinois Tollway first introduced Pay By Plate, over one million customers have leveraged the service to pay their tolls seamlessly online.In the wake of a worldwide pandemic, the Illinois Tollway responded with extensive mitigation efforts including the halt to cash toll payments.  With an urgent need to find new ways for customers to pay, the Tollway’s operations and business team accelerated the development of a new technology designed to let...

Time is running out for Illinois Tollway customers to take advantage of the savings offered by the agency’s popular toll violation relief program, which reduces all existing $20 and $50 fines on unpaid tolls to a $3 fee per toll.The violation relief program, which was launched last June as part of the Tollway’s comprehensive TOLLING 2020 reforms, is scheduled to end on June 30.Drivers already have taken advantage of the relief program to clear nearly 230,00 outstanding violation notices for...

Numerous memorials throughout the Illinois Tollway system serve as reminders of the service and sacrifices of those who have served in the U.S. armed forces. “This Memorial Day, and every day, the Illinois Tollway honors those who have served our country, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defending our freedoms,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director José Alvarez. “We are forever indebted to those whose service and sacrifices allow us to enjoy peace and prosperity,...

Tollway provides travel tips to make summer road trips more enjoyable. More than 7 million vehicles are anticipated on the Illinois Tollway system to kick off the summer travel season this Memorial Day weekend from Friday, May 28, through Tuesday, June 1.“As families return to the road to begin summer trips across our 294-mile Tollway system, we remind everyone to slow down in construction work zones and travel safely,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director José Alvarez. “And, to make...

“At the end of the day,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director José Alvarez, “these are two structures that are going to be around for decades.”The two structures Alvarez is referring to make up the new Mile Long Bridge on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294).How the bridge is being built – and the highly skilled, diverse workforce behind its construction – was the focus of the latest episode of “Built To Last,” a series of half-hour specials that runs every Sunday morning on ABC 7...

The Illinois Tollway is passing the 60 percent complete mark on the replacement of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway Bridge over the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294), with the placement of the last of the new beams needed to build the bridge to carry commuter and freight trains over the Tollway. Altogether, 24 new steel beams will be installed in May to support BNSF tracks 1, 2 and 3. Beam placement is scheduled at night to provide a safe work zone and reduce the impact on...

Students still have time to apply for Illinois Tollway summer internship opportunities. The paid internships – scheduled to run from June 21 through August 13 – offer students real-world, hands-on experience in the transportation industry, with guidance from dedicated mentors, as well as access to leadership and professional growth activities to help further their careers. “Our internship program was built to make sure we’re providing support for future leaders in transportation,”...

Imagine the Illinois Tollway rebuilt entirely as one big rollercoaster!  One student at Meadow Glens Elementary School in Naperville asked if that was possible during a presentation by Tollway Project Manager Rick Hanba on how roads are built.  “We’ll get on that right now,” chuckled Hanba, recalling countless hours spent in his youth riding rollercoasters at Cedar Point and Kings Island amusement parks in Ohio.  Hanba, a Tollway project manager since 2014,...

Time is running out for Illinois Tollway customers to take advantage of the savings offered by the agency’s popular toll violation relief program, which reduces all existing $20 and $50 fines on unpaid tolls to a $3 fee per toll.The violation relief program, which was launched last June as part of the Tollway’s comprehensive TOLLING 2020 reforms, is scheduled to end on June 30.Drivers already have taken advantage of the relief program to clear nearly 230,00 outstanding violation notices for...

Zero injuries in 2020 helped the Rockford maintenance site earn the Illinois Tollway’s annual 2020 Go the Extra Mile for Safety Award, a competition among the agency’s 12 maintenance sites for best safety performance each year.Maintenance workers are responsible for making sure that the five roadways that make up the 294-mile Tollway system provide safe and efficient travel for Tolllway customers. They plow snow, provide roadside assistance and, oftentimes, arrive first on the scene in...

The Illinois Tollway marked a milestone in April for the multi-year project to complete the interchange finally connecting the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and I-57. The last construction contract for the $719 million project was awarded to Dunnett Bay Construction Company for $20.8 million for roadway and bridge construction on I-57 over the CSX and Baltimore and Ohio Chicago Terminal Railroads. This final piece of the massive interchange project puts the agency on track to deliver full...

The Illinois Tollway is joined with other transportation and safety agencies, the construction industry and labor groups this week to urge drivers to take extra precautions to protect workers and themselves as they travel through roadway work zones this construction season. To mark Work Zone Safety Awareness Week in Illinois, the Tollway is asking drivers to play an active role in reducing work zone crashes by following simple safety measures when they get behind the wheel.“We’re...

A spear-wielding troll. Giant ants. Colorfully illuminated trees.Those are some of the sights drivers traveling along the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) just west of the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355) have seen at The Morton Arboretum in west suburban Lisle.The Morton Arboretum ranks as one of the world’s largest, oldest and most diverse outdoor tree museums. Established in 1922 by Joy Morton, founder of the Morton Salt Co. and son of J. Sterling Morton, the founder of Arbor Day, the...

This year, the Illinois Tollway celebrates Earth Day by sharing wildflower seed packets while serving customers, while advancing key contracts that aim to fulfill its commitment to plant 58,000 trees throughout the 294-mile Tollway system. These efforts are being achieved as a part of the Tollway’s overall commitment to balancing the environmental impacts of its roadway projects through the implementation of a comprehensive landscaping master plan. The Illinois Tollway’s landscaping...

The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors today approved a balanced 2021 Budget with $1.42 billion in revenue allocated to fund maintenance and operations, debt service transfers and capital investments for the 294-mile system. The 2021 Budget will allow the Tollway to commit $1.53 billion in capital spending, including funding for the 10th year of the agency’s 15-year, $14 billion Move Illinois capital program. “This balanced budget recognizes the economic challenges that are continuing with...

The Illinois Tollway has sold $500 million in Toll Highway Senior Revenue Bonds to help fund the agency’s ongoing Move Illinois Capital Program, with yields for the new bonds representing the lowest borrowing cost achieved for any of the nine bond issues offered by the Tollway since it launched Move Illinois in 2012.     The bonds were sold with fixed interest rates and maturities ranging from January 1, 2036 through January 1, 2045. The bonds were priced to produce yields to call...

Recently, the National Safety Council called upon the expertise of the Illinois Tollway and its industry-leading traffic management team to contribute to the national discussion on work zone safety.  A 2020 National Safety Council Green Cross for Safety Award finalist for its success in integrating smart work zones on its system for construction and roadway maintenance, the Tollway was invited to join the panel to speak to its proven success in reducing work zone speeding and enhancing...

The Illinois Tollway is preparing to open the new northbound Mile Long Bridge to traffic next week, marking the halfway point in the $500 million construction project to deliver the new bridge and a major milestone for the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project. "The Mile Long Bridge is an extraordinary project, and completion of the new northbound structure stands out due to the hard work and perseverance of the many engineering and construction firms continuing to move forward during...

The Illinois Tollway today announced that Samantha Cervantes, a sophomore at Thornton Fractional North High School, Calumet City, is the grand prize winner of the 2021 Illinois Tollway Map Cover Art Contest highlighting “Everyday Heroes” who are making a positive impact on people’s lives through the COVID-19 pandemic.  “Samantha’s winning artwork will serve as a reminder that our world is in good hands with everyday heroes like nurses, firefighters and roadway workers working day and...

To help young drivers learn to stay safely in their cars if they become stranded on a high speed roadway, the Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police traveled to the Chicagoland Speedway to demonstrate how much ground a fast-moving vehicle covers and how long it takes to stop.   Video footage shot at the Speedway shows an Illinois State Police SUV approaching at 70 mph—the speed limit on most of the Tollway system—and then abruptly braking, but still traveling for several hundred feet...

In recognition of a unique partnership between the Illinois Tollway and Pace Suburban Bus, the American Public Transportation Association awarded the partnership its 2020 Innovation Award. The Tollway and Pace worked together to expand transit, deliver roadway improvements and improve overall mobility on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90). “The partnership between the Illinois Tollway and Pace serves as a great example of what can be accomplished when transportation and transit...

Ricardo Martinez launched his business more than 20 years ago with one dump truck that he drove himself. Since that humble beginning, his company, Martinez Frogs Inc., has expanded to include about 15 employees and now takes on jobs involving excavation, demolition and concrete work. Today, the firm is continuing its growth by working on a demolition project for the Illinois Tollway along the planned route of the new I-490 Tollway along the western edge of O’Hare International Airport. ...

Since the Illinois Tollway in June launched TOLLING 2020, a comprehensive tolling relief program, thousands of drivers have taken advantage of the changes to save nearly $50 million by settling their unpaid toll violations at drastically reduced rates. Through mid-September, Tollway customers had cleared more than 86,000 outstanding toll violation notices making it the most successful relief package in the Tollway’s history. An update presented to the Tollway’s Board of Directors at its...

Construction crews completed the 32nd concrete pour Friday, October 2, for the new 4,800-foot-long, five-lane northbound Mile Long Bridge on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294). In total, nearly 16,000 cubic yards of concrete was needed for the bridge deck and walls, an amount equal to about 1,760 fully-loaded concrete-mixing trucks. Along with the concrete, the bridge deck contains about 5.2 million pounds of stainless steel rebar, which are being used here because it resists corrosion...

Illinois Tollway Executive Director José Alvarez has been elected to serve on the board of directors of the International Bridge, Tunnel & Turnpike Association, the worldwide organization representing toll agencies and operators. The IBTTA, which represents roadway agencies in 26 countries on six continents, provides advocacy, education and leadership in implementing state-of-the-art technology and developing best practice standards for the user-financed transportation industry. “I’m...

Illinois Tollway roadway worker Kevin Rice is used to assisting drivers who are involved in crashes or whose vehicles break down along the Tollway system, but on a Thursday last month he went above and beyond to assist a carload of stranded travelers.   On August 13th, Rice responded to a crash with area maintenance site manager Phil Peterson on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) near DeKalb. After removing their overturned vehicle from the road, Rice and Peterson then turned to...

The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) today announced the seven winners of its prestigious 2020 Toll Excellence Awards  acknowledging industry leaders implementing transportation projects worldwide focusing on environmental sustainability, advancement of emerging technologies, easing mobility and alleviating congestion.    “This year’s Toll Excellence Award winners have continued to set the bar higher for the transportation industry throughout the...

When Breneshaia C. from the Quad Cities area received a notice that she owed $798 in tolls and violations, she called the Illinois Tollway in hopes of arranging a payment plan.  That’s when the representative with the Illinois Tollway’s Customer Service Call Center told Breneshaia C. about the Tolling 2020 violation relief program. Introduced in June, this comprehensive tolling reform package included comprehensive relief for customers with outstanding violations who settle their...

It’s a nightmare that can confront any driver: Your car is damaged in a crash or stalls, leaving you stranded in traffic on a high speed roadway.     A driver’s first instinct might be to step out of the stopped car and dodge oncoming vehicles to head for the shoulder or median. But trying to cross lanes of high-speed traffic on foot only makes a bad situation worse, Illinois State Police and Illinois Tollway officials said. Instead, if your car can’t be moved out of traffic,...

The COVID-19 crisis is forcing businesses and public agencies to rethink nearly everything, from the way we provide services to the way we engage customers.   The Illinois Tollway has a history of proactively engaging local communities, residents and customers by clearly and effectively communicating the impacts, changes and benefits of roadway and mitigation projects to the public. That’s why the Illinois Tollway has launched a new Virtual Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project...

While Illinois Tollway customers may be familiar with the roadway assistance offered to drivers in need on the road, many don’t know that the Tollway’s Roadway Maintenance team also assists in unexpected ways. On June 16, a customer reported an injured hawk on the side of Illinois Route 390 Tollway near the I-290 Interchange. The Tollway dispatched roadway maintenance staff, Ricky Raimonde and Tony Caloia, to the site, and indeed they found a a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk...

Illinois Tollway Chief Planning Officer Rocco Zucchero has not only achieved great success in his 20-year career at the agency, but he has also helped advance the careers of a strong team of women along the way. Tollway Planning Department staff includes several women assigned to some of the Tollway’s largest projects, including the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project and the I-490 Tollway Project. Other women are in charge of coordinating with railroads and communities on interchanges...

New Tollway access for the Village of Sugar Grove and the City of Marengo will improve regional mobility and support economic development opportunites The Illinois Tollway is opening two new interchanges in the western suburbs to make traveling easier for commuters and commercial vehicles by providing better access to local communities and other major roadways. New ramps at Illinois Route 47 and the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) opened today (December 10), creating a full-access...

The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors today approved a balanced 2020 Budget with $1.54 billion in revenue allocated to fund maintenance and operations, debt service transfers and capital investments for the 294-mile system. In addition, the budget will allow the Tollway to commit $1.46 billion in capital spending, including funding for the ninth year of the agency’s 15-year, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. “This balanced budget enables...

Illinois Tollway employees and our customers gave St. Nick a run for his money this holiday season, swooping in to drop off a record number of toys, games, dolls and bikes at Tollway headquarters for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program. When the toys were tallied, the Tollway had collected 1,423 gifts that will be distributed to less fortunate children in the Chicago area to help put smiles on their faces on Christmas day. Last year, the Toys for Tots program collected about...

Sustainability is built into everything we do at the Illinois Tollway. From LEED-certified facilities to environmentally conscious de-icing efforts, the Tollway is constantly looking for ways to make our footprint leaner and greener. In addition to a comprehensive landscaping plan, the Illinois Tollway looks to inject green construction practices and environmentally friendly materials throughout our 294-mile system.     It’s all part of the Tollway’s commitment to reduce the...

Winter arrived early this year with a Halloween snowstorm, but the Illinois Tollway was ready to roll, deploying all of its 196 snowplows and opening its Snow Operations Center to clear roads and keep traffic moving.   “We’re committed to serving our customers by rapidly clearing snow and ice from our roads so drivers can continue to travel safely and by quickly assisting any customers whose vehicles become disabled along our system,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director José...

Pink will be the color of the day at the Illinois Tollway on October 25 as staff show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Many employees will be wearing pink clothing to work as part of the Tollway’s efforts to increase awareness and provide more information about breast cancer. Working with the American Cancer Society and Advocate Health, the Tollway will offer health consultations and information sessions about breast cancer to employees, with representatives from those...

The Illinois Tollway collects detailed traffic information from cameras, weather stations, road sensors and, for the first time, Tollway drivers themselves to more efficiently manage traffic flow, reduce congestion and respond more quickly to roadway incidents.   The Tollway’s successful transition to using data gathered from drivers by Waze and other outside sources to improve its operations and better serve its customers has been honored as Project of the Year by the...

The Illinois Tollway is upgrading lighting across its system to energy-efficient LED fixtures. By retrofitting existing light fixtures and designing and building new LED fixtures as part of the Move Illinois capital program, the Tollway’s LED lighting efforts are improving customer safety while reducing energy consumption and realizing cost savings.  “As we prioritize safety, we are always mindful of our environmental footprint. Not only are we providing a more direct,...

Illinois Tollway Senior Project Engineer, Laura Thompson, P.E. (left), with Megan McDonald, P.E., president-elect, Illinois Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers Since coming to work for the Illinois Tollway in 2013, Senior Project Engineer Laura Thompson has helped complete complex roadway projects, refined the use of sophisticated 3-D modeling for construction design and also found time to mentor students considering careers in engineering. Her...

Each year the Illinois Tollway gives an opportunity for young artists to show off their creative talents by soliciting artwork for the cover the annual Illinois Tollway system map.  The map itself, which is distributed to Oases and customer service centers across the region, features a different theme selected by Tollway leadership with the goal of featuring a different aspect, achievement or aspiration of the agency.   This year, in the wake of the tragic loss of a string of...

The Illinois Tollway is asking drivers to help save lives by promising to slow down and move over when they travel through work zones or pass vehicles stopped along the road.   To drive home that message, the Tollway is displaying the National Work Zone Memorial at the Hinsdale Oasis on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) , beginning September 16 and continuing through September 23. The memorial wall lists the names of nearly 1,500 people who have died in work zone crashes, including...

The Illinois Tollway has been selected as the statewide winner of the Build a Better Mousetrap Competition, which highlights innovative solutions to everyday problems and issues that transportation workers encounter. Administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation, the competition recognizes agency personnel who utilize their expertise and creativity increase safety, reduce cost, improve efficiency and the quality of transportation. An independent team of judges...

Governor J.B. Pritzker recently signed a package of legislation to expand Scott’s Law in an effort to protect law enforcement, first responders, road workers and the everyday motorist.  Scott’s Law, sometimes known as the “Move Over” Law, requires drivers to slow down and move over safely when approaching any vehicle with hazard lights flashing. First enacted in 2002, the law is named after Lt. Scott Gillen of the Chicago Fire Department who was struck and killed by an intoxicated...

The Illinois Tollway is operating around-the-clock Hot Weather Patrols to more quickly assist customers stranded along its roads during the dangerously high temperatures and humidity expected to continue into the weekend. The Tollway typically operates Hot Weather Patrols to provide additional aid to customers whenever temperatures or heat indexes indicate conditions could be hazardous for stranded drivers.  The 24-hour patrols search for drivers stranded in disabled vehicles and...

September 15-21 is National Child Passenger Safety Week, and each year agencies and organizations around the country take this opportunity to help educate and promote kids safety in vehicles. For its part, the Illinois Tollway is constantly looking for ways to promote public safety. That’s why each summer our agency partners with the Illinois State Police District 15 to host and promote a series of KISS, or Kids Identification and Safety Seat Events.   Child seats and...

A year after it opened, the innovative Barrington Road Park-n-Ride station is busier than ever as riders use it to hop on and off Pace express buses for convenient, reliable commutes along the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90). Roads & Bridges magazine recently highlighted how redesigned Barrington Road Interchange on I-90 helped add new travel options to an existing high-speed road, thanks to cooperative efforts between the Illinois Tollway, Illinois Department...

Drivers on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) are getting a front-row view of the construction of a new interchange that will provide more travel options by linking I-90 to the new I-490 Tollway being built along the western edge of O’Hare International Airport. Crews working above I-90 near Des Plaines are pouring concrete as they build the new bridges that will connect the road to I-490. Earlier this year, workers installed steel beams across I-90 to support part of the interchange,...

The Illinois Tollway emphasizes safety—that’s why we’re proud to help call attention to the dangers of speeding by participating in the fourth annual Illinois Speed Awareness Day (ISAD) campaign. Drivers who speed have less time to react to other vehicles or objects in the roadway, require a greater distance to stop to avoid crashes and are more likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries if they are involved in a crash.  Across Illinois, speeding accounted for 42 percent of all traffic...

The Illinois Tollway not only builds and maintains roads — it also enhances the ecosystem around its roads by adding native plants that help support threatened butterflies, bees and other pollinators. The colorful results of that work can be seen springing up all along the 294-mile Tollway system. Earlier this year, 13,000 native plants were added to the low-lying basins and swales along the Illinois Route 390 Tollway in DuPage County. An even larger planting project occurred along the...

The Illinois Tollway has been recognized as having one of the best training programs in the country for the telecommunications dispatchers who handle calls for roadside assistance and emergency situations on the 294-mile Tollway system. The Tollway has become only the 6th public safety agency in Illinois — and the first operating an Illinois State Police district dispatch center--to have its training program certified by the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO). ...

As temperatures drop dangerously low, the Illinois Tollway is opening the doors of its six oases to everyone who needs a place to warm up. The oases are open around the clock and most have pavilions that offer food, beverage and retail options. All oases have 7-Eleven stores and fuel stations where drivers can top off their tanks or check their vehicles. Drivers using the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80) can stop at any of four oases: Lake Forest, O’Hare, Hinsdale and...

The Illinois Tollway staff was devastated this weekend when Illinois State Police District 15 Trooper Christopher Lambert was struck by a vehicle while assisting with a three-vehicle crash on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294). ISP District 15 is the dedicated state police unit assigned to patrol the 294-miles of the Illinois Tollway system, and each and every day they risk their lives to keep our customers safe. Trooper Lambert was on his way home when he responded to the crash, positioned his...

Last year, the Illinois Tollway began exploring the possibility of installing in-road charging equipment in the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) so drivers can recharge their electric cars just by traveling over the pavement. It’s an innovative idea—and one that the Chicago Tribune said in a recent editorial is worth considering as the Tollway moves to incorporate new transportation technology into its 15-year, $14 billion Move Illinois capital program. Here’s an excerpt - The Tollway is...

Seeks to build upon past accomplishments in eighth year of Move Illinois Program DOWNERS GROVE, IL – The Illinois Tollway introduced advancements, improvements and innovative new programs in 2018 that promise to deliver exceptional value to Tollway customers in 2019 and for years to come. Building upon these accomplishments, the Tollway is well-positioned to expand its economic impact on the region, redefine travel for its 1.6 million daily drivers, enhance safety and reliability, improve...

The Illinois Tollway has been at the forefront of developing Building Information Modeling – or BIM – and the use of digital files for deliverables in design and construction. BIM enables engineers to create 3-D models of projects and then integrate the digital files through planning, design, construction and asset management processes. Benefits from using the digital files include not only time and cost savings, but also increased accuracy during to deliver better construction...

Along with its annual summer Professional Services Internship Program, the Illinois Tollway is offering a unique, year-long Engineering Cooperative Education Program to enable college students to gain hands-on experience in the transportation industry.Interested students can learn more about these opportunities on March 16 when the Tollway will offer two webinars outlining details of the paid programs.“We’re offering this intensive, year-long Engineering Cooperative Education Program for...

The Illinois Tollway is doing its part to advance the state’s reputation as the nation’s most important transportation hub. At the annual Illinois Transportation and Highway Engineering Conference in Champaign, Tollway staff highlighted continued investments in strengthening a multimodal transportation network in Northern Illinois and the use of technology and innovation to deliver improvements. The conference, hosted by the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the...

As Dorothy Abreu prepares to take her seat for her first meeting in March, the Illinois Tollway’s newBoard Chairwoman brings with her with more than 20 years of experience in financial services, significant public sector experience and an active track record of community service. Appointed to the Tollway Board post by Governor JB Pritzker, Abreu, a senior vice president at PNC Bank, will be just the second female to lead the board in the Tollway’s nearly 70 years and the agency’s first...

The Illinois Tollway is celebrating Engineers Week by participating in activities that set the groundwork to get students interested in engineering careers, help recruit new talent to positions at the Tollway and support contractors and engineers that do business with the agency.  Engineers Week 2022, February 20-26, is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology...

Agreement includes land and design parameters necessary to protect airport and ensure access during construction. The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors 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...

Drivers reminded to reduce speed and move over for vehicles stopped along the road.  The Illinois Tollway is deploying its full fleet of 196 snowplows in response to freezing rain, sleet and snow expected to move into the area early Thursday, possibly creating changing pavement conditions and scattered icy patches that could affect drivers during their morning and evening commutes. The Tollway’s Snow Operations Center is open to manage the agency’s systemwide response.“Our crews...

Drivers reminded to slow down, allow extra room for plows and emergency vehicles.The Illinois Tollway is mobilizing its full fleet of 196 snowplows in response to sleet and snow moving into the area tonight and continuing through Wednesday, possibly causing variable pavement conditions in some areas that could affect drivers during their morning and evening commutes. The Tollway’s Snow Operations Center is open to manage the agency’s systemwide response to the storm. “We’re focused on...

The beginning of the new year was a chance for the Illinois Tollway to not only share future priorities, but also recognize the contributions of Illinois’ engineering community towards the progress made across the region on the Tollway system.  Illinois Tollway Executive Director José Alvarez met this week with members of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois at the ACEC Illinois Regional Luncheon for the first opportunity of 2022 to connect with engineers from...

The Illinois Tollway provided up-and-coming engineering professionals with an in-depth look at the various ways transportation agencies can work in collaboration with local municipalities and other agencies to address regional transportation challenges.  The American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois Emerging Leadership Program hosted a presentation by Illinois Tollway Chief Planning Officer Rocco Zucchero, who shared his insights on the planning process and resources...

When winter temperatures plunge and wind chills fall dangerously low, the Illinois Tollway steps up to provide extra roadside help to customers who are stranded or need assistance on the Tollway system. The extra help comes from special Zero Weather Road Patrols the Tollway operates around the clock during winter cold spells to more rapidly find and assist drivers whose vehicles have become disabled along the road  The patrols typically run whenever temperatures or sustained...

The Illinois Tollway is deploying around-the-clock Zero Weather Road Patrols to more quickly locate and assist customers who become stranded on the Tollway system during the cold weather and dangerous wind chills forecast to continue into the weekend. The Illinois Tollway typically operates Zero Weather Road Patrols whenever temperatures or sustained wind chills fall below zero degrees to bolster the roadway assistance already provided by the Illinois Tollway’s Highway Emergency Lane...

For gift giving, out-of-town visitors or rental cars – I-PASS has it covered.The Illinois Tollway is working to help customers take some of the stress out of holiday travel over the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s weekends.“The Illinois Tollway wishes a safe and happy holiday season to all of our customers,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director José Alvarez. “From us to you, we’ll continue working to help make travel easier and convenient.”Nearly 1.3 million vehicles are expected to...

Illinois Tollway customers may wonder what those vertical yellow markings are they see on concrete median barriers throughout the Tollway system. With winter rapidly approaching, now is a good time to provide an answer. Those yellow markings indicate where catch basins are located, much in the way that underground utilities such as sewers, gas and electric are marked by colored flags, stakes or paint by J.U.L.I.E., the Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators...

The Illinois Tollway detailed technical aspects and the status of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project to area engineers at a virtual luncheon hosted recently by the Institute of Technical Engineers, Illinois Section. Lanyea Griffin, deputy chief of program implementation for the Tollway, spoke to the group of more than 40 transportation professionals from area professional engineering services firms and public agencies at the ITE Illinois event.“Anyone driving the Central...

The Illinois Tollway is ready for winter, but are you?When winter storms strike, the Tollway moves rapidly to clear its roads but drivers still need to be prepared to deal with snow, sleet, freezing rain and other difficult weather when they get behind the wheel.“Winter can be a challenging time for drivers but we’re committed to providing whatever equipment and staffing required to keep our roads clear and safe for our customers this winter,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director José...

The Illinois Tollway salutes the military veterans who help fill our ranks and bring a wealth of experience, dedication and service to our agency and our customers.The Tollway is proud to count more than 50 military veterans among its full-time staff and relies on the skills and knowledge they began developing during their military careers to help the agency operate efficiently and safely.“We are honored to count so many military veterans as members of our team and our Tollway family,” said...

Kids don’t always listen to adults, but they seem to hang on every word uttered by a child-sized, talking Illinois State Police car named Trooper Cooper.Maybe it’s Trooper Cooper’s outsized, blinking eyes that grab their attention, or the flashing red-and-blue emergency lights or the cartoon-style voice.Whatever it is, kids flock to Trooper Cooper to hear what he has to say—which is the whole idea behind the 34-inch-tall, 100-pound talking robotic car unveiled earlier this year by Illinois...

In October, the Illinois Tollway surpassed its goal to plant 58,000 new trees along its system of roadways crossing 12 counties, and planting is ongoing. The milestone tree is among new trees and shrubs being planted recently along the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355). “It’s exciting to be part of this effort to expand the regional tree canopy, which will greatly benefit our customers and communities for generations,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director José Alvarez....

Balanced spending plan allocates more than $1.49 billion in annual revenue and supports more than $1.49 billion for capital programThe Illinois Tollway introduced a balanced Tentative 2022 Budget with $1.49 billion of revenue today that includes $411 million for annual maintenance and operations on the 294-mile system and provides funds to support $1.49 billion in capital spending, including funding for the 11th year of the agency’s 15-year, $14 billion...

Since launching its Partnering for Growth program to help small, diverse and veteran-owned firms gain experience working on Illinois Tollway projects, the agency has seen a surge in those businesses participating in its construction and engineering work. Tollway officials recently outlined the benefits and successes of the innovative program to other interested public agencies and construction industry groups at the Government Procurement Forum, which is affiliated with the City of...