The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors approved three new construction contracts totaling nearly $19.8 million at its May board meeting, according to a May 21 announcement from the agency.
The newly awarded contracts are part of ongoing efforts under the Bridging the Future capital plan and bring total contract approvals in 2026 to approximately $233.9 million. Of this amount, $44.6 million is allocated as part of the fifteenth year of Move Illinois, a 16-year, $15 billion capital program, while $189.3 million supports the seven-year, $2 billion Bridging the Future plan. The overall 2026 capital program includes an investment target of $1.26 billion.
Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse said, “Now beginning its second year, our Bridging the Future capital plan is guiding the Tollway as we invest in work that improves mobility, maintains and modernizes infrastructure to ensure we are meeting our customers’ needs.” Rouse added, “the contracts approved today focus on preventative maintenance that extends the service life of our bridges and keeps the system in a state of good repair.”
Contracts awarded include an $8.6 million project with K-Five Construction Corp., Westmont, for pavement and structural rehabilitation on Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355) from I-55 to Army Trail Road; a $5.3 million contract with Rausch Infrastructure for bridge rehabilitation on Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294) between Deerfield Road and Lake Cook Road and Algonquin Road to Sanders Road; and a $5.8 million agreement with Lorig Construction Co., Des Plaines, for systemwide structural rehabilitation.
The May contracts involve participation by 11 certified disadvantaged, minority-, or women-owned business enterprise firms as well as five certified veteran-owned firms. Commitments for disadvantaged or minority/women-owned business participation range from 18.15 percent to 23.03 percent per contract; veteran participation commitments range from 2 percent to 4.39 percent per contract.
Since 2012, more than $12.2 billion has been invested by Illinois Tollway through its capital programs—with over $3.2 billion committed specifically to small businesses owned by diverse groups or veterans—and an estimated total of about 152,930 jobs created or sustained through April 2026.
