Chicago Construction News staff writer
Jacobs says it has been selected by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to support two infrastructure projects aimed at modernizing the I-290 (Eisenhower Expressway) corridor in the Chicago area.
The work forms part of broader efforts to improve one of the region’s most heavily travelled transportation links, which carries more than 200,000 vehicles daily and serves as a key connection within the greater Chicago transportation network.
The first assignment includes design services and project management for the replacement of the Indiana Harbor Belt railroad bridge, a critical structure that supports rail operations crossing the corridor. The project is considered an enabling component for future widening of I-290, intended to help reduce congestion along the expressway.
Jacobs will also be responsible for implementing accelerated construction staging strategies designed to limit disruption in the active freight corridor while maintaining protection of existing utilities during construction.
In a second scope of work, Jacobs will provide construction oversight and inspection services for the installation of a supplemental storm sewer system beneath I-290. The upgrade is intended to improve drainage capacity and enhance long-term corridor resilience.
This portion of the project will be delivered using tunnelling methods requiring specialized underground construction expertise, along with enhanced quality assurance and inspection protocols.
Together, the projects are intended to support long-term capacity, safety and reliability improvements along one of the Chicago region’s most critical expressway corridors.
