News

T.Y. Lin International Announces Completion of IL 390 Tollway in Northeastern Illinois

T.Y. Lin International Announces Completion of IL 390 Tollway in Northeastern Illinois

Project Completions
003--ElginOHare_web

T.Y. Lin International (TYLI), a globally recognized, full-service infrastructure consulting firm, announces the completion of the Illinois Route 390 Tollway (IL 390) in northeastern Illinois. The first all-electronic roadway to open on the Illinois Tollway system, the new corridor has been designed to improve travel efficiency, provide western access to O’Hare International Airport, enhance air, rail, and trucking connections, and reduce traffic congestion. TYLI, as part of a joint venture with V3 Companies of Illinois, was selected by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) to perform Overall Corridor Construction Management (CCM) for the four-year, $780 million transportation project. 

The project required extensive coordination with adjacent construction contracts, the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) Bureaus of Traffic and Maintenance, and local municipalities and counties. It was developed as part of the first cashless tolling roadway in Illinois, requiring no manual toll collection at booths. This enabled a smaller overall project footprint and reduced both construction and operating costs. Additionally, the overall roadway and ramp configuration allowed for toll collection gantries primarily over mainline lanes, simplifying the ramp configuration at the system interchange and promoting a safer, more efficient flow of traffic.

TYLI’s CCM team oversaw overall corridor coordination between the more than 15 separate construction contracts for utility relocations, maintenance of traffic, intersection and lane closures, and special construction activities. The firm also managed the construction of expressway-level pavement from I-290 east to the limits at O’Hare International Airport. This portion of the project entailed 10 additional construction contracts and required maintaining traffic on an existing parallel arterial roadway and vehicular access to adjacent industrial parks. 

Other CCM activities included quality assurance, claims management, and interfacing with various IDOT and ISTHA departments regarding the turn-on of new facilities, construction signage, and notifications to project stakeholders and the traveling public. TYLI also directed the demanding project schedule for the entire IL 390 corridor, comprising close to 20 separate projects, many of which were concurrent. 

As part of the IL 390 project, TYLI also provided Direct Construction Inspection services for the new, free-flow interchange between IL 390 and Interstate 290 (I-290). The IL 390 Tollway at the I-290 Interchange, a key part of the project, is a $144 million project that was built as three separate construction contracts, resulting in a completely reconfigured interchange. Scope of work included constructing nine bridge structures, eight interstate ramps, and 13 retaining walls. New noise walls were also installed, including a portion highlighted by an acrylic noise wall mounted on a single-span curved steel bridge. New construction for the I-290 interchange includes three highway crossings over I-290, two approximately 2,100-foot-long trilevel flyover ramps spanning both I-290 and IL 390, and full access ramps for other traffic movements. 

Construction phase services included field observation and documentation, contract administration, utility coordination and materials documentation. The construction team also processed requests for information, change orders and extra work orders, and reviewed critical path methodology schedules and monthly updates.

“T.Y. Lin International was committed to keeping the Illinois Route 390 Tollway project on track to meet the needs of the Illinois Tollway, Illinois Department of Transportation, and other project stakeholders,” said Paula C. Pienton, P.E., S.E., TYLI Vice President and Central Region Director. “We are proud to have played an important role on this major surface transportation project. The new Illinois Route 390 Tollway paves the way for a faster connection to O’Hare International Airport while driving economic opportunities for local communities.”

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)-Illinois honored the IL 390 project with a 2018 Special Achievement Award. The project is part of the $3.4 billion Elgin O’Hare Western Access Project, which is included in the Illinois Tollway’s 15-year, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, to improve mobility and reduce congestion in northeastern Illinois. 

Related Projects

Related News