The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors has approved a $22.8 million contract for professional engineering services at its December meeting, marking the latest in a series of investments for 2025 under the Move Illinois and Bridging the Future capital programs.
According to the agency, this brings the total value of construction and professional engineering contracts awarded in 2025 to nearly $421.1 million. These investments are part of the ongoing 16-year, $15 billion Move Illinois program and the first year of Bridging the Future, a seven-year plan with a budget of $2 billion.
Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse stated, “The Illinois Tollway’s work is moving transformational projects forward in our region that are creating and sustaining jobs as well as developing and cultivating businesses. What’s more, we are also delivering critical new and improved infrastructure that is creating access for communities and improving mobility for drivers to better manage traffic and travel experiences.”
Projects completed or advanced during 2025 include systemwide maintenance improvements, continued construction on the new I-490 Tollway and its major interchanges with Illinois Route 390, Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), and Tri-State Tollway (I-294). The agency also expanded access at the North Avenue Interchange on I-294 and opened a new fly-under ramp at the I-290/I-88 Interchange to improve travel from northbound I-294 to westbound I-290.
The newly awarded contract went to AECOM Technical Services Inc., based in Chicago, for design services related to bridge reconstruction on I-294 between 107th Street and Harlem Avenue. The contract includes participation commitments from four certified disadvantaged, minority-, or women-owned business enterprise firms (32.54 percent) and two veteran-owned firms (5.76 percent).
Additionally, two existing contracts were renewed: CDM Smith Inc., Cambridge, MA will continue providing Traffic Engineer Services ($12.8 million), while WSP USA Inc., Chicago will continue Consulting Engineer Services ($57.4 million). Both extensions last through 2026.
Since 2012, more than $12 billion has been invested by the Illinois Tollway in capital improvements; over $3.2 billion has gone to small, diverse, or veteran-owned firms. As of November 2025, an estimated 148,600 jobs have been created or sustained through these efforts.
Professional engineering service contracts are selected using a qualifications-based process as required by state law (Illinois Public Act 87-673), focusing on demonstrated competence rather than price alone.
All board meetings are broadcast publicly via www.illinoistollway.com where information about current contracts can also be found.
Move Illinois aims to improve mobility across Northern Illinois’ tollways while reducing congestion and pollution; it is expected to create up to 165,220 jobs over its duration. The Bridging the Future initiative was launched in December 2024 following stakeholder input to address modernization needs between long-term capital programs.
The Illinois Tollway operates as a user-fee system without state or federal funding for maintenance or operations; it manages nearly 300 miles of roadway across twelve counties in Northern Illinois.
