The Illinois Tollway urged drivers to travel safely and to slow down in construction work zones and avoid distracted driving when traveling during Fourth of July holiday. 

Overall, about 9.2 million vehicles traveled the system over the five-day Fourth of July holiday weekend between Friday, June 30 and Tuesday, July 4. The heaviest travel was seen on Friday, June 30 when 1.9 million vehicles used the 294-mile Tollway system. Traffic volume was lighter than average Sunday and Monday and Tuesday. On an average day, more than 1.5 million vehicles use the Illinois Tollway.

Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse encouraged all our customers to make safety a priority by staying alert, staying off their cellphones and using caution in work zones. “Construction is underway in many locations on the Tollway system from ongoing projects to short-term repairs, so it’s vitally important for drivers entering any work zone to slow down, eliminate distractions and focus on safety," she said.

The first thing most people notice about Illinois Tollway snowplows is how big they are, says Roadway Maintenance Manager Joe Dragovich. 

At 10 feet high, 12 feet wide and up to 25 feet long, the 27-ton snowplows impress children and adults alike. 

The second thing people notice is the horn. “They find the horn pretty quickly,” Dragovich said.

Thank you to Kohl Children's Museum for supporting the Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police Troop 15 at our Kids ID and Safety Seat event. We are proud to work together to keep kids safe every trip, every time. #KidsSafetySeats

“Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better.” This quote from Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Pat Riley inspires Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse in her day-to-day responsibilities as executive director of the Illinois Tollway. She talks about this and a wide variety of other topics with IBTTA Executive Director and CEO Pat Jones at Café IBTTA. 

The June Café IBTTA interview with Rouse is one in a weekly webinar series of interviews hosted by the International Bridge, Tunnel & Turnpike Association, the worldwide association for owners and operators of toll facilities and businesses that serve them. 

Rouse fielded questions from Jones and the audience about topics related to the economic impact of Illinois Tollway projects, diversity and equity initiatives and attracting young people to explore career opportunities in the transportation industry. 

See the Café IBTTA interview here.

Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse joined project teams in accepting National Recognition Awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies at the annual ACEE Engineering Excellence Awards Gala on June 13 in Washington, D.C. 

Three Illinois Tollway projects were recognized by ACEC for exceptional engineering excellence:

• Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway Bridge Project – submitted by Gannett Fleming, TranSystems and H.R. Green
• Tri-State Tollway (I-294)/I-57 Interchange Project, Phase Two – submitted by T.Y. Lin International and Wight & Co
• I-294 Mile Long Bridge Gantry System – submitted by Collins Engineers

All three projects received Honor Awards from ACEC Illinois, allowing them to advance to the national awards. 

The Illinois Tollway is grateful to the hard work of its project teams and to ACEC for the recognition!

They pour and rake concrete for new roadways, install storm drains and do a host of other jobs as they help reconstruct the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294).

Members of the Laborer’s International Union of North America (LiUNA) are playing a key role in doing the on-the-ground work required to update and improve the 22-mile Central Tri-State corridor between Rosemont and Oak Lawn.

A film crew from LiUNA International recently toured the corridor to document the work being done by laborers and interview its members about their experiences working on the Illinois Tollway’s $4 billion project.

Using a drone and hand-held camera, photographer Ronald Weaver II, shot video of drainage work being done by laborers at Flagg Creek near the Hinsdale Oasis on I-294, and also captured images of the ramp work being done near Electric Avenue in Berkeley, where crews are building a new interchange connecting I-294 with I-290. Media coordinator Marley Clements interviewed several LiUNA members on camera about their jobs and the satisfaction they feel from their work on the extensive multi-year project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2026.

LiUNA is one of a number of labor unions whose members are indispensable to the success of Central Tri-State Tollway project.

“We appreciate all the skills and hard work LiUNA members are investing in this project to keep it moving forward so we can deliver this state-of-the-art roadway to our customers,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “We depend on the critical skills of union members in a variety of trades to safely and successfully complete this project and other work that is ongoing across our system.” 

The Illinois Tollway congratulates leaders from 17 firms graduating in June from its Technical Assistance Program administered by Inner-City Underwriting Agency.

The business owners were recognized at a ceremony in Matteson for successfully completing a six-week estimating class that provided participants with skills that will help them submit more accurate and competitive construction-related bids.