Cook and DuPage Counties, IL

Illinois’ Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Reconstruction

Client: Illinois Tollway
Our Role: Owner’s Representative, Construction Corridor Management, and Construction Management

A complex, multi-lane highway interchange with overpasses.

Illinois’ Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) is one of the region’s most heavily traveled corridors, carrying more than 300,000 vehicles daily. To support future growth, the Illinois Tollway launched a 22-mile, $4 billion reconstruction and widening program to improve capacity, reduce congestion, and modernize aging infrastructure.

GFT serves as the Tollway’s owner’s representative, construction corridor manager, and construction manager, providing program-wide leadership across multiple major contracts. Acting as a single point of coordination, GFT aligns design, construction, and stakeholder efforts under a unified delivery strategy focused on safety, schedule, and cost control.

Through integrated oversight and proactive coordination, GFT is helping deliver a more reliable, efficient corridor while minimizing disruption to the traveling public and surrounding communities.

An aerial view of a new highway over local roads.

An aerial view of an outdated highway crossing over local roads.

Key Features

Corridor-wide leadership across a 22-mile, multi-contract program.
Major program elements include the I-290/I-88 interchange reconstruction, Mile Long Bridge replacement, multiple bridge upgrades, and full corridor widening.
Single point of coordination for design, construction, and stakeholders.
Program management supporting schedule, cost, and quality control.
Construction corridor management minimizing disruption to traffic and communities.
Coordination with municipalities, agencies, railroads, and utilities.
Oversight of complex staging, phasing, and maintenance of traffic.

Outcomes

Streamlined delivery across multiple major contracts through unified delivery strategy.
Integrated design–construction coordination reducing delays, conflicts, and claims risk.
Consistent communication across agencies, municipalities, and stakeholders.
Maintained traffic flow along one of the region’s busiest corridors during construction.
Enhanced safety, reliability, and long-term performance of critical infrastructure.
American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois, 2026, Engineering Excellence Awards, Honor Award and Judges’ Choice Award.
American Public Works Association Chicago Metro Chapter, 2026, Project of the Year.
American Council of Engineering Companies, 2024, Engineering Excellence Awards, National Recognition Award.
Structural Engineering Association of Illinois, 2023, Excellence in Structural Engineering Award.
Roads & Bridges, 2023, Top 10 Bridges, No. 1 Bridge.
Railway Track & Structures, 2022, Top Projects, Class 1: New Construction (Bridges).