The Illinois Tollway board of directors approved the next major phase of construction for the new I-490 Tollway, advancing one of the region's most significant transportation projects designed to alleviate congestion, improve regional mobility and provide western access to O'Hare International Airport.
The July board action includes four construction and professional engineering services contracts totaling more than $198 million to support the I-490 Tollway Project and other ongoing infrastructure improvements.
The Illinois Tollway is constructing the I-490 Tollway, a new north-south corridor designed to improve regional mobility, including 6 mi. of new north-south roadway connecting the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and the Illinois Route 390 Tollway and creating western access to O'Hare International Airport.
The new contract provides for roadway and bridge construction on the northern half of the I-490 Tollway between Supreme Drive and I-90 along the western border of O'Hare International Airport. The work also includes construction of new bridges spanning Union Pacific Railroad along one of its principal freight corridors and over the Bryn Mawr Railyard which serves as a critical operating point for the Railroad.
"Today's action marks another important step in delivering the new I-490 Tollway and the long-term mobility benefits it will provide for Northern Illinois," said Cassaundra Rouse, executive director. "Projects like the I-490 Tollway require years of planning and coordination, but each milestone moves us closer to improving regional connectivity and delivering infrastructure that will serve this region for generations."
More than $502.7 million in contracts has been approved by the Tollway board in 2026, including $225.5 million as part of the 15th year of the Tollway's 16-year, $15 billion Move Illinois capital program and $277.2 million as part of the seven-year, $2 billion Bridging the Future plan. The Illinois Tollway's 2026 capital program calls for investing $1.26 billion.
Overall, more than $12.5 billion has been invested by the Illinois Tollway since 2012, with more than $3.35 billion of that total committed to small, diverse and veteran-owned firms. In addition, the capital program has created or sustained an estimated 154,660 total jobs as of June 2026.
Construction contracts awarded in July include:
• A $177.9 million contract to Dunnet Bay Construction Co., Glendale Heights, Ill., for roadway and bridge construction on the new I-490 Tollway between Supreme Drive and the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90).
• A $3.1 million contract to Industrial Fence Inc., Chicago, Ill., for roadway appurtenance repairs systemwide.
Professional engineering services contracts awarded in July include:
• An $11.9 million contract to Stantec Consulting Services Inc., Chicago, Ill., for design services at the west landside reserve area adjacent to the new I-490 Tollway.
• A $5.5 million contract to OSEH Inc., Wheaton, Ill., for construction management services for interchange reconstruction, asphalt overlay and pavement marking installation on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) between the Cermak Toll Plaza and North Avenue.
The July contracts include 28 certified disadvantaged, minority- and women-owned business enterprise (D/M/WBE) firms, as well as two certified veteran-owned firms. Commitments for D/M/WBE participation range from 25.07 percent to 84.89 percent per contract and commitments for veteran participation range from .86 percent to eight percent per contract.
Illinois Tollway professional engineering services contracts are selected in accordance with the qualifications-based selection process (30 ILCS 535) Architectural, Engineering and Land Surveying Qualifications-Based Selection Act, which requires state agencies to select professional architects, engineers and surveyors based on demonstrated competence and professional qualifications. Construction contracts for Illinois Tollway projects are competitively bid under the rules of the Illinois Procurement Code.
The Illinois Tollway broadcasts all public meetings on the Tollway's website at illinoistollway.com. This includes all board meetings and public bid openings. Also provided is detailed information about current Tollway construction and professional engineering services contracts in the Construction Contract Tracker.
