The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors has approved three contracts totaling more than $9.2 million for construction and professional engineering services at its November meeting. This brings the total value of contracts approved by the board in 2025 to nearly $398.3 million. Of this amount, $253.3 million is part of the fourteenth year of the agency’s 16-year, $15 billion Move Illinois capital program, while $145 million is allocated from the first year of the seven-year, $2 billion Bridging the Future plan.
Since 2012, the Illinois Tollway has invested over $12 billion in capital improvements. More than $3.2 billion has been directed to small, diverse, and veteran-owned firms. The Move Illinois program has created or sustained an estimated 147,600 jobs as of October 2025.
“The Tollway’s investments are continuing to ensure well-maintained infrastructure is in place to support the flow of goods and services throughout the region,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “These types of contracts approved today are necessary to keep the Tollway in good condition for years to come.”
The construction contract awarded in November includes a $3.9 million agreement with Western Utility from University Park, IL, for systemwide fiber-optic system construction.
Two professional engineering services contracts were also approved: a $3.7 million contract with Bloom Companies from Chicago for construction management services related to bridge rehabilitation on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) between Howland Creek and Steward Creek; and a $1.6 million contract with Structure Designs Inc., also from Chicago, for systemwide bridge rehabilitation management.
Ten certified disadvantaged, minority-, and women-owned business enterprise (D/M/WBE) firms and three certified veteran-owned firms are included among those receiving contracts this month. D/M/WBE participation commitments range from about 28 percent up to 90 percent per contract; veteran participation ranges from nearly 6 percent up to 10 percent per contract.
Professional engineering services contracts are selected based on qualifications under state law, while construction contracts are awarded through competitive bidding according to procurement regulations.
The Illinois Tollway provides public access to all board meetings and bid openings via its website at www.illinoistollway.com, where detailed information about current projects can also be found through its Construction Contract Tracker tool.
Move Illinois is a long-term initiative focused on improving mobility and reducing congestion across Northern Illinois’ tollways—including major projects such as new toll roads and reconstructed interchanges—while creating thousands of jobs in the region.
Bridging the Future was launched by the board in December 2024 as a seven-year plan intended to continue modernization efforts and support regional mobility improvements between larger capital programs.
The Illinois Tollway operates without state or federal funding for maintenance or operations and manages almost 300 miles of roadways across twelve counties in Northern Illinois.
