The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors approved six construction and professional engineering service contracts totaling nearly $228.7 million, including a $184.6 million contract to reconstruct the northbound "Mile Long Bridge" on I-294, the agency's largest construction contract ever awarded.

Nearly $375.9 million in construction and professional engineering services contracts have been approved by the Tollway Board in 2019, as part of the eighth year of the Tollway’s 15-year, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future.

The Mile Long Bridge construction contract is the first of two for work to remove and rebuild the twin bridge structures carrying northbound and southbound traffic. The work is part of a $4 billion Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project.

The construction that is scheduled for 2019 to 2023 is intended to maintain four lanes in each direction. Originally built in 1958, the Mile Long Bridge carries the roadway over two railroads, three water resources and local roads, as well as over a distribution center for UPS and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.

Up to 150,000 vehicles travel on the Mile Long Bridge daily. The contracts approved include one prime consultant, 12 subconsultants, one prime contractor and 28 subcontractors.

Construction contracts awarded include:

  • A $184.6 million contract to F.H. Paschen S.N. Nielsen & Associates, Chicago, for roadway and bridge construction of the northbound Mile Long Bridge on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294).
  • An $8.2 million contract to F.H. Paschen S.N. Nielsen & Associates, Chicago, for pavement and structural preservation and rehabilitation on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88).
  • A $1.1 million contract to Cardinal State, Lake in the Hills, Illinois, for landscaping and planting improvements on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90).
  • A $395,900 contract to Native Landscape Contractors, Leland, Illinois, for grading and erosion control and repairs on I-294.

Professional engineering services contract awarded include:

  • A $29.5 million contract with Jacobs Engineering Group, Chicago, for design corridor manager services for I-490 Tollway Project.
  • A $5 million contract with Infrastructure Engineering, Chicago, for construction management services on I-88 and systemwide.