Illinois Tollway reports progress on Move Illinois, approves four engineering items for full board

The Engineering, Planning and Development Oversight Committee of the Illinois Tollway received a progress update on the Move Illinois and Bridging the Future capital programs and approved placement of four engineering items on the full board agenda.

Menar Nash, the tollway’s chief engineering officer, told the committee that the Move Illinois program has delivered the bulk of projects planned over the past decade. “In total, on this program, the board has awarded 904 contracts valued at approximately $13,400,000,000,” Nash said, adding that that figure represents about 88% of the program’s $15,000,000,000 budget.

The update focused on two of the program’s largest projects: the Central Tri‑State corridor and the I‑490 corridor. Nash said the Central Tri‑State work is roughly 84% complete and the I‑490 corridor is about 69% complete. He described ongoing construction at heavily traveled interchanges, relocation of runway lighting at O’Hare International Airport for I‑490 construction, and complex railroad bridge work where the tollway must coordinate with freight and commuter railroads.

Why it matters: the committee’s work advances contract approvals and extra work orders that keep multi‑year construction schedules on track. Officials said the program generated substantial regional economic activity and…