Tollway Stories & More—2023 Volume 12

Volume 1, 2024

Roads & Bridges Names Mile Long Bridge the No. 1 Bridge Project in North America

The Mile Long Bridge has topped Roads & Bridges’ annual ranking of the best bridge projects in North America for 2023.

The Top 10 Bridges ranks recently completed bridge projects based on project challenges, impact to the region and scope of work. The Mile Long Bridge Project was selected as No. 1 on the list for 2023.

The $500 million Mile Long Bridge Project includes construction of two new, wider bridge structures, as well as stormwater, drainage and related infrastructure improvements. In addition, inside shoulders were built to serve as flex lanes, which can accommodate transit during heavier periods and various safety-related needs in case of emergencies.

Read more at Inside the Tollway

The Road to Evolution Goes Through the Illinois Tollway

In the latest issue of HNTB’s Transportation Point, Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse highlights how the Tollway is leading the transformation of today’s toll industry through its Move Illinois capital program.

At 85 percent complete, Move Illinois is fulfilling a regional vision for greater congestion relief, reduced pollution and increased economic development. This transformative journey is guided by universal best practices and innovative approaches to safety, mobility and customer convenience.

Illinois Tollway First-Aid Training Helps Save A Life

Illinois Tollway mechanic Bob Cowgill was only looking to have some fun and possibly win a few dollars when he went out in October to play Bingo.

Instead, Cowgill ended up saving a man’s life when he was abruptly confronted by a medical emergency while playing in his weekly Bingo match at a community center in Orland Park.

“I looked up, saw one of the workers come through the doorway in obvious distress,” recalled Cowgill, 59, who works at the Alsip (M-1) maintenance site. “When you see it, you know it was distress.”

Illinois Tollway Unveils Cutting-Edge Maintenance Facility in Hoffman Estates

The Illinois Tollway’s new maintenance facility in Hoffman Estates is up and running.

Centrally located on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) between the eastern terminus of I-90 and the Fox River Bridge, the new Hoffman Estates (M-5) Maintenance Facility is better situated to support roadway operations and serve Tollway customers. It replaces an outdated facility in Schaumburg that was tucked into the southwest corner of the I-90/Illinois Route 53 Interchange.

“This new site is a huge improvement over our previous M-5 site, which first opened in 1958 when the Tollway system began operating,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “This new 95,000-square-foot facility is large enough to provide indoor storage for all the vehicles and equipment used here, including nearly 30 snowplows, keeping that valuable equipment out of the elements and helping prolong its service life, which saves us money.”

The $33.8 million facility provides roadway maintenance workers with a state-of-the-art facility to help them do their jobs as safely and efficiently as possible. The multi-functional space houses a staff of 40 workers, fleet of 28 plow trucks and other vehicles, as well as and offices for Illinois State Police Troop 15, and incorporates numerous features to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards for sustainable design and construction.