CISCO names I-294/I-57 Interchange its 2022 Project of the Year for Infrastructure

CISCO names I-294 I-57 Interchange its 2022 Project of the Year for Infrastructure

The Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO) named the Tri-State Tollway (I-294)/I-57 Interchange Project its Project of the Year award winner in the infrastructure category. 
 
CISCO’s annual Pride in Construction Award Program recognizes top-quality union construction projects, with entries judged on the project’s positive impact on the community, safety record, quality of construction and design. 
 
“The Illinois Tollway takes great pride in the completion of the Tri-State Tollway (I-294)/I-57 Interchange and the tremendously positive impact for local communities now and in the future – particularly Harvey, Markham, Dixmoor and Posen,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “The I-294/I-57 Interchange is bringing more jobs to the area, attracting new economic development, as well as supporting existing businesses to move the goods and services they produce in the Chicago Southland.”
 
Given the impact infrastructure improvements have on the regional economy, the Illinois Tollway advanced completion of the I-294/I-57 Interchange Project from 2024 to 2022.
 
In September 2022, the Tollway opened the final ramps to provide full access at the interchange, two years ahead of schedule. The $719 million project built in partnership with the Illinois Department of Transportation delivers a new gateway for commerce and economic development in the Chicago Southland. 

RAMP C

RAMP D


 
Phase Two of this project began in 2019. Improvements included construction of new ramps providing access to and from Chicago, via four new ramps connecting southbound I-57 to I-294 and I-294 to northbound I-57. Phase One, completed in 2014, provided first-time access to and from Champaign serving 75 percent of the travel demand. 
 
The project created or sustained more than 6,800 total jobs. More than 200 companies, including contractors and consultants, worked on Tollway contracts for the project. On any given day, as many as 135 workers were on the job site each day. 
 
The new all-electronic interstate-to-interstate connection was designed to reduce congestion on local routes, enhance economic development and improve regional mobility by providing commuters and freight operators with completed access between the two interstates.
 
Throughout construction of the new interchange, an estimated 15 million square feet of new commercial space began popping up in the Chicago Southland, including new warehouses, logistics centers and manufacturing firms in anticipation of the new access. And more development is planned in the coming years. This, in turn, has generated thousands of new jobs in the region. 
 
The CISCO Project of the Year Award for the I-294/I-57 Interchange Projects marks the second consecutive year a Tollway project has received this distinguished award and the fourth time in the past 10 years. The award has gone to the Mile Long Bridge Project on I-294 in 2021, the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) Rebuilding and Widening Project in 2018 and the I-294/I-90 Tri-Level Bridge Project in 2012. 
 
See the CISCO Project of the Year Award press release.

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