By Fehr Graham on June 15, 2021
Category: Our Solutions

Jane Addams Memorial Tollway widening, reconstruction reduces congestion

NORTHERN ILLINOIS

PERIOD OF SERVICES
March 2012 to November 2014

CONTRACT VALUE
$1,400,000

CONSTRUCTION COST
$14,000,000

​AT A GLANCE
» Prepared plans and specifications.
» Obtained permitting.
» Completed topographic surveys.
» Prepared signal designs.





The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority completed the reconstruction of I-90 from Rockford to Chicago to relieve congestion and reduce pollution. About 11,500 people, including Fehr Graham employees, worked on the Joint Venture project. The Tollway awarded the Joint Venture team the design of a 7.4-mile stretch of road, which included five bridges, ramps to oases and toll plazas and a new interchange ramp. We improved eight lanes from the Kennedy Expressway to Randall Road and six lanes from Randall Road to I-39, linking the City of Rockford to O'Hare International Airport in Chicago.

Fehr Graham provided all engineering required to replace the bridge carrying Irene Road over I-90. Our staff provided quality control and quality assurance reviews for other bridges within the project produced by the Joint Venture partners to ensure final plans were complete and accurate. Our team also provided a significant portion of the engineering required to provide contract plans, specifications and cost estimates to reconstruct and widen I-90 and build roadway and access ramps at Irene Road. We also completed field surveys to verify conditions and establish controls for construction. We widened all embankments, rebuilt pavement and added a median barrier wall, new combination closed and open drainage system with detention, interchange lighting and pavement marking and signage. The work was divided into two main contracts. Improvements from Rockford to Randall Road were completed in November 2014.

The project was awarded an Engineering Excellence Honor Award. Fehr Graham was a consultant on the team completing a section of the Jane Addams Memorial Highway western segment extending 37 miles from the Elgin Toll Plaza to the Cherry Valley Interchange in Rockford, Illinois. This widening and reconstruction project is one of the first projects completed under Move Illinois, the Illinois Tollway Authority's 15-year, $12 billion capital program.