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| 10/29/2009 Illinois Tollway “Building Green” Initiatives Help Reduce Environmental Impact of Reconstruction and Widening ProjectsDOWNERS GROVE, Ill. – As the Illinois Tollway prepares to turn newly reconstructed and widened roadways back to drivers this year on budget and on schedule, it will not only provide reduced congestion and improved travel times, but also deliver environmental benefits through green construction initiatives. By reducing, recycling and reusing existing roadway materials, as well as old tires and roof shingles on construction projects include in the systemwide $6.3 billion Congestion-Relief Program, the Tollway is cutting back on consumption of virgin materials, saving the cost of purchasing new material, and decreasing the amount of scrap material disposed of in landfills.The Tollway’s “Building Green” initiatives are supported by the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association and are being highlighted to drivers throughout Northern Illinois on road signs going up this month throughout the Tollway System. “By Building Green, the Illinois Tollway is demonstrating its commitment to being a good environmental steward as we complete rebuilding and widening projects systemwide by the end of 2009,” said Acting Executive Director Michael King. “Recycling roadway materials is a cost-effective way to maximize existing resources without compromising our commitment to the highest construction standards.” Since the 2005 launch of the $6.3 billion Congestion-Relief Program – Open Roads for a Faster Future – the Tollway has recycled 100 percent of existing pavement into construction projects across 120 miles of roadway systemwide. More than 5 million tons of pavement has been recycled – 3.2 million tons of concrete and nearly 1.8 million tons of asphalt – enough to fill Soldier Field nearly three times. In addition, about 230,000 recycled scrap tires were used in materials for new roadway shoulders and pavement. The Tollway’s “Building Green” initiatives are supported by the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association recently formed Green Council. The Tollway has joined the IRTBA’s effort as an agency partner on the Council, and along with IDOT, local transportation agencies and roadway contractors, embraces the IRTBA Green Council's efforts to build public awareness of ongoing efforts to design and build a more sustainable transportation infrastructure throughout Illinois. “The Illinois Tollway is playing a significant role in the advancement of sustainable initiatives in the Illinois road building community through its commitment to reduce, recycle and reuse materials on its massive reconstruction and widening projects,” said Green Council Chair Jennifer Krug. “We are encouraged by what the Tollway has accomplished through its building green initiatives and look forward to continuing to build upon this partnership in future environmental endeavors.” Illinois Tollway Building Green Efforts Illinois Tollway pavement recycling initiatives include recycling existing asphalt and concrete pavement on reconstruction projects throughout the system. Rather than disposing old asphalt pavement in landfills, the Tollway has recycled all usable elements in these materials as well as material from other sources, such as stockpiled recycled asphalt pavement, steel-slag aggregates and even old office buildings. Reclaimed materials are processed and reused in new asphalt mixtures used to build new pavement and roadway shoulders. Similarly, excavated concrete is broken up and crushed into smaller pieces – often right on the roadway construction site with the use of mobile crushers – to create a high-quality aggregate base for new pavement. Up to 90 percent of each new roadway base consists of recycled concrete. The Tollway’s use of recycled pavement mixes helped reduce the amount of virgin materials used, with a savings of nearly 4 million barrels of petroleum-based liquid asphalt. For cleaner air, the Tollway requires all contractors to use ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel on construction equipment over 50 horsepower. The use of on-site mobile crushers results in fewer trucks transporting materials in and out of construction zones, which increases safety for drivers and workers and helps improve air quality through reduced emissions. In October, roadway signs are being installed along the newly reconstructed roadways throughout the 286-mile Tollway System to inform drivers that improvements have been made using “green” construction methods and materials. The roadside signs highlight unique environmental benefits on each of the four tollway corridors – the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80), Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355). Signs include such facts as the percentage of recycled asphalt and concrete used to reconstruct roadways since the Tollway launched the Congestion-Relief Program. About the Congestion-Relief Program The Illinois Tollway’s $6.3 billion Congestion-Relief Program – Open Roads for a Faster Future, is reducing travel times by rebuilding/restoring nearly all of the system, widening/adding lanes to many miles of existing roads, converting 20 mainline toll plazas to barrier-free Open Road Tolling and extending I-355 south to I-80 in Will County. By the end of 2009, the Illinois Tollway will complete nearly $3 billion in work to reconstruct/rehabilitate and widen about 120 miles of roadway across the 286-mile system. These improvements on the Tollway’s roads will result in a smoother ride for motorists and serve as an economic engine for Northern Illinois. About the Illinois Tollway The Illinois Tollway maintains and operates 286 miles of interstate tollways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), and the Tri-State Tollway (I-94, I-294, I-80). Get I-PASS & Get Going! | |
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