The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors approved three new construction and five professional engineering services contracts totaling $183.4 million at its December meeting.
The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors approved three new construction and five professional engineering services contracts totaling $183.4 million at its December meeting, including contract awards to three firms working as primes with the Tollway for the first time.
In 2019, the Tollway has awarded 44 contracts, providing opportunities for diverse firms varying in size and levels of experience. In all, $836 million in construction and professional engineering services contracts have been approved by the Tollway Board in 2019.
"The Illinois Tollway is committed to creating opportunities for businesses of all types and sizes and supporting those firms that want to step up to be prime contractors and consultants," said José Alvarez, Illinois Tollway executive director. "The contracts awarded show success in our efforts to see new, first-time primes working on Tollway projects."
December construction contracts awarded include:
- A $64.4 million contract to Judlau Contracting, College Point, N.Y., for roadway and bridge widening and ramp construction as part of the Tri-State Tollway (I-294)/I-57 Interchange Project.
- A $61.9 million contract to Plote Construction Inc., Hoffman Estates, Ill./ Dunnet Bay Construction Co., JV, Glendale Heights, Ill., for roadway and bridge widening and rehabilitation on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project between Wolf Road and Balmoral Avenue.
- A $33.2 million contract to Plote Construction Inc., Hoffman Estates, Ill., for pavement and structure reconstruction and rehabilitation on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) between the Aurora Toll Plaza and Illinois Route 59.
December professional engineering services contracts awarded include:
- A $7.5 million contract to Clark Dietz Inc., Chicago, Ill., for construction management services upon request on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294).
- A $6.2 million contract to SE3, Lisle, Ill., for construction management services for reconstruction of the Archer Avenue Bridges on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294).
- A $5 million contract to AAA Engineering, Niles, Ill., for facilities design services upon request.
- A $3 million contract to American Veteran Industries, Lockport, Ill./Bravo Company Engineering, Montgomery, Ill., for facilities construction management services upon request.
- A $2.3 million contract to Rubinos and Mesia Engineers Inc., Chicago, Ill., for design services for U.S. Route 20 Bypass Bridge reconstruction on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90).
The contracts approved include three prime consultants, 19 subconsultants and 38 subcontractors that are certified as disadvantaged, minority- and women-owned business enterprise (D/M/WBE) firms and two prime consultants, three subconsultants, as well as five subcontractors that are certified veteran-owned firms. Commitments for D/M/WBE participation range from 27 percent to 91 percent per contract and commitments for veteran participation range from 2 to 48 percent per contract.
The contract awards also mark the final Board action for the eighth year of the Tollway's 15-year, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future.
Overall, nearly $7.2 billion has been invested by the Tollway since the Move Illinois Program began in 2012, with more than $2 billion of that total committed to small, diverse and veteran-owned firms. In addition, the capital program has created or sustained an estimated 74,710 total jobs as of November 2019.
Illinois Tollway professional engineering services contracts are selected in accordance with the qualifications-based selection process (Illinois Public Act 87-673 [30 ILCS 535/1-535/80] Architectural, Engineering and Land Surveying Qualifications-Based Selection Act), which requires state agencies to select professional architects, engineers and surveyors on the basis of demonstrated competence and professional qualifications. Construction contracts for Illinois Tollway projects are competitively bid under the rules of the Illinois Procurement Code. All contracts are presented to the Illinois Tollway Board of Directors for review and approval.
The Illinois Tollway broadcasts all public meetings on the Tollway's website at illinoistollway.com. This includes all board meetings and public bid openings. Also provided is detailed information about current Tollway construction and professional engineering services contracts through the Construction Contract Tracker. Contractors and consultants also can access resources online to help them learn about how to do business with the Tollway, including construction bid-letting schedules, professional service bulletins, manuals and construction bid calendars. These resources can be found in the "Doing Business" section of the Tollway's website.
About Move Illinois
The Illinois Tollway's 15-year, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, is improving mobility, relieving congestion, reducing pollution, creating as many as 120,000 jobs and linking economies throughout the region. The first eight years of Move Illinois are on schedule and within budget, delivering the new Illinois Route 390 Tollway and a rebuilt and widened Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) with its new SmartRoad corridor, as well as opening a new interchange connecting the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to I-57. Progress continues on projects addressing the remaining needs of the existing Tollway system, delivering the new I-490 Tollway Project and reconstruction of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and planning for emerging projects.
About the Illinois Tollway
The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 294 miles of roadways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80) and the Illinois Route 390 Tollway.
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