Tollway advances $7.3M CCTV award, $8.5M estimated extra work order for complex railroad relocation; several engineering contracts cleared

On Sept. 24, 2025, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority advanced several engineering contracts and a large extra work order tied to the I‑490 corridor railroad relocation near O’Hare, including a $7,298,079.15 low‑bid award for a systemwide closed‑circuit television (CCTV) camera installation and an estimated $8.5 million extra work order to recover schedule and address unforeseen site conditions.

The Authority’s chief engineering officer told the committee the CCTV contract—recommended to Utility Dynamics Corporation as the low bidder—will expand camera coverage across the tollway system and includes site work, fiber installation and other related work. The chief engineering officer said five bids were received and the low bid “was nearly equal to the estimate.” Utility Dynamics committed to meet Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and veteran participation goals. The committee consolidated and approved engineering items 1–7 for placement on the full board agenda; the board later approved engineering items 1–7.

Also presented was an extra work order to Walsh Construction under contract 4732 tied to the most complicated phase of the I‑490 relocation. The extra work order is intended to address challenges on the southern leg of the corridor where the project requires relocating about 2.5 miles of railroad track through an intermodal yard immediately south of O’Hare. The chief engineering officer said the work requires coordination and approvals from three railroads—Canadian Pacific, Union Pacific and Metra—and must comply with Federal Aviation Administration regulations because of the project’s proximity to the airport.

The $8,500,000 figure for the Walsh extra work order is an estimated amount that the Authority said covers schedule recovery, resequencing activities and responses to unforeseen subsurface obstructions encountered while drilling beneath active railroad tracks. The chief engineering officer emphasized that only documented, reviewed actual costs will be paid; the extra work order request was recommended to keep work moving while documentation is completed. The Authority said DBE and veteran commitments are expected to be met for this additional work and that subcontractors will participate.

The board also recommended awards for three professional engineering services contracts and two supplements: - Avna Engineering: up to $3,000,000 for on‑call pavement, bridge, drainage and other systemwide design services. Avna committed to exceed DBE and veteran goals and has a partner‑for‑growth agreement with 4HD. - STV Incorporated: $4,442,746 for bridge reconstruction design services, including replacement design for the bridge carrying the CSX railroad over the Tri‑State Tollway in Thornton Township. STV committed to exceed DBE and veteran goals. - Michael Baker International, Inc.: $7,700,394.63 for design services for a western extension of Illinois Route 390 and a new interchange with County Farm Road in Hanover Park; the firm committed to exceed DBE and veteran goals and has a partner‑for‑growth agreement with Singh & Associates. The presentation stated two of the three design contracts are funded through the Bridging the Future program approved by the board in December. - Atlas Technical Consultants LLC (contract 9245R): a supplement not to exceed $1,000,000 to extend intelligent transportation systems (ITS) management services while the Authority transitions to a new contract; DBE and veteran commitments are expected to be met. - Pinpoint Precision LLC (contract 4943): a supplement not to exceed $530,000 for additional construction management services on the York Road bridge reconstruction over the I‑88 ramps in Oak Brook after a construction schedule extension to relocate a conflicting electrical line.

Committee and board leaders said progress is being made across the corridor and encouraged board members to visit active sites to see construction complexity firsthand.

The engineering items were taken as a group in committee, moved and seconded, and advanced to the full board. The full board subsequently voted to approve engineering items 1–7 as presented.