American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois launches 2024 ‘Engineering Works’ contest
Calls now for the public to cast votes to select the “Best Infrastructure Project in Illinois”
The American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC Illinois) recently launched the second edition of its Engineering Excellence Awards competition titled “Engineering Works.” The competition allows the public to recognize and honor the most outstanding engineering project in the state and celebrate the engineering teams behind the design and construction of the project.
Finalists in various categories have been nominated, and members of the public are now encouraged to cast their votes to pick the project to be honored with the award at the ACEC Illinois Engineering Excellence Awards gala in February.
The voting period will end on Feb. 22, 2024, when a winner will be selected after counting votes cast by the public.
To see photographs of the projects and vote for your favorite or those that have the greatest impact on your community, visit the dedicated voting website at https://www.acecileea.com/engineering-works/.
Infrastructural development has been on the upswing in Illinois in recent years due to historic investments in infrastructure by the state through the “Rebuild Illinois” capital program, which provided over $33.2 billion in funding for several types of transportation infrastructure; and the injection of over $17 billion in federal investments into the state’s infrastructure program through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
With many road, rail, freight and transportation projects completed or undergoing construction in the state, ACEC Illinois’ Engineering Excellence Awards highlights these innovative and ground-breaking projects.
“Engineering companies across Illinois have taken on the challenge of ‘Rebuilding Illinois’ and modernizing an infrastructure network ready for the challenges of a 21st century economy,” said Kevin Artl, president and CEO of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois. “Illinois is at the forefront of innovation and modernization and we are proud to highlight projects being designed and built across the state and recognize the engineering companies who work with our public and private partners to deliver them.”
Eleven projects will be open to public voting for the “2024 Engineering Works” award. The projects represent the broad categories of transportation, waste and stormwater projects, small projects, studies research and consulting and special projects.
The public is asked to vote for their favorite for the top award after considering the aesthetics, design, construction excellence and the social and economic impact of the projects in their communities.
After thousands of public votes were cast last year, the 2023 Engineering Works award went to TYLin International Great Lakes Inc and Wight & Company for its development of Phase Two of the I-294/I-57 Interchange for the Illinois Tollway.
“Under the leadership of Gov. Pritzker, IDOT is working alongside its partners more than ever to modernize the state’s infrastructure and create jobs,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “The extraordinary work being done by the engineering community to deliver the governor’s Rebuild Illinois capital program and make all modes of transportation more safe, accessible and reliable for all is helping expand economic opportunity and strengthen our communities. We greatly appreciate the collaboration and partnership of the engineering industry as we work together to ‘Rebuild Illinois.’”
“Road safety and efficiency is mandatory for the complex highways we operate across our 294 miles of roadway. “Through our Move Illinois Program, the Illinois Tollway is delivering generational projects that are making a lasting economic impact on the region by providing greater opportunities for businesses, creating much-needed jobs and enhancing connectivity. Because of the collaboration between our agency and the engineering community, we were able maintain and modernize our roadway network,” said Cassaundra Rouse, executive director, Illinois Tollway. “We are delighted that this year’s awards will recognize the efforts of the engineering teams that worked with us to further improve and enhance the Illinois Tollway.”
“ACEC Illinois’ “Engineering Works” competition aims to showcase the ingenuity of engineers who work on challenging projects to modernize our state’s infrastructure, said Linda Moen, chair of the Board of Directors of ACEC Illinois. “We will continue to celebrate them as they work with our agency partners and other stakeholders to build a better Illinois.”
Nominated honor projects include:
Deromedi Family Bridge – Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. for the Lake Forest Open Lands Association
The Deromedi Family Bridge is a 120-foot suspension bridge that offers a life-changing experience in nature for Lake Forest Preserve visitors and allowed the implementation of a new trail system in the 61-acre preserve. The WJE team reviewed the design documents for the proposed pedestrian bridge structure and validated the bridge design leading to the construction of an elegant, complex structure built with galvanized and stainless steel to ensure strength and durability while blending into the rustic environment and providing access for visitors.
Peoria Riverfront Masterplan – TERRA Engineering for the City of Peoria
The City of Peoria selected TERRA to develop a comprehensive plan that runs north and south from the Murray Baker Bridge to the Bob Michel Bridge. Recognizing the Riverfront’s potential as a catalyst for business development and growth as well as recreation, the TERRA team utilized out-of-the-box public engagement techniques and developed a plan that established the riverfront as a focal point for community activity and economic revitalization for the historic downtown. The plan promoted tourist attractions and supported the development of the riverfront as a regional destination of interest.
Neighborhood Storage Project – Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. for the Village of Wilmette
Completed by Christopher B. Burke Engineering, this project significantly transformed the quality of life in the Village of Wilmette, providing flood protection for 98 percent of residents who experienced flooding on the west side of town. The Village installed huge underground stormwater storage at three prominent parks, and five miles of storm sewer under streets throughout the west side. The size and configuration of the underground Storm Trap vaults were the first of their kind in Illinois, including the vault with the largest number of pieces. The legacy project was delivered on time and nearly $4 million under budget and it ensures that Wilmette residents will no longer experience the emotional, physical and financial distress that comes with flooding.
43rd Street Pedestrian Bridge over LSD/METRA/CNRR – Benesch, Inc. for Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT)
Benesch Inc.’s ingenious approach to the 43rd Street Pedestrian Bridge project employed innovative techniques that pushed the boundaries of conventional engineering and construction. One of the project’s most significant challenges was the need to construct inclined arch structures over six incredibly busy railroad tracks and a major highway. With 263 trains passing daily and a constant stream of 100,000 vehicles on the highway, the stakes were high to erect the inclined arch structures over six highly active railroad tracks. The bridge was constructed to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, people with disabilities, wheelchairs, and strollers, encouraging sustainable living by promoting non-vehicular access to various parts of Chicago via the lakefront pathways.
Pritzker Military Archives Center – TERRA Engineering, Ltd. for the Pritzker Military Museum & Library
TERRA Engineering collaborated with the Pritzker Military Archives Center to apply innovative rainwater harvesting, stormwater management systems and a photovoltaic solar field system to provide the yearly irrigation and electrical needs of the archive’s building and site. This project provides a socio-economic benefit to the community through the extension of public utility infrastructure, public education and outreach. The successful delivery of this unique project allows PMML to continue its support of public education through the preservation of military artifacts and the telling of our rich military history.
Eldamain Road Extension – HR Green, Inc. for Kendall County Highway Management
With its population doubling and faced with the challenge of evolving land use from agriculture to commercial and industrial, Kendall County worked with HR Green on this project that addressed traffic and safety concerns at the I-55/Weber Road Interchange. The project involved transforming the existing interchange into an innovative Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) to enhance safety and mobility. On May 31, 2023, Kendall County opened the bridge that carries the new Eldamain Road extension over the Fox River, completing the almost 5-mile project. The new and improved multi-modal transportation corridor has resulted in more efficient travel for area residents and commuters, improved mobility for commercial traffic, enhanced safety for all users, and provided new development opportunities for the communities of Yorkville and Plano for years to come.
Houbolt Road DDI and Extension: TranSystems Corporation, Burns & McDonnell and CivilTech Engineering for the City of Joliet, IDOT, CenterPoint Properties and United Bridge Partners
This 2.5-mile-long, $130M project was a complex, challenging, and massive undertaking by TranSystems. It involved the construction of three new bridges, including a 2,000-foot major river bridge, two railroad crossings (BNSF and CSX), three waterway crossings, open road tolling equipment, five signalized intersections, and the conversion of the existing diamond interchange to a DDI. The Houbolt Road extension is the first major roadway and bridge project in Illinois to use design/build to help facilitate recently enacted alternative delivery legislation and is the first DDI in Illinois where the crossroad goes under the expressway. The project successfully addressed the safety and congestion concerns by providing better and more direct access to I-80 via Houbolt Road. The project will ensure that the freight, warehousing and distribution industry will continue to be a driver of growth, jobs and revenue for Will County.
Main Street Reconstruction Project – Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. for the Village of Algonquin
The Main Street Reconstruction project is an exemplary decades-long transformative planning and engineering effort by the Village of Algonquin to complete an innovative and multimodal repurposing of a former state highway into a community “Main Street” that highlights existing historic features, is an attractive place for shops, restaurants, and businesses, and a community center for residents and visitors to enjoy. This overall planning and engineering effort included working with multiple agencies on the relocation of IL Route 31 to the west, preparing the Downtown Streetscape Master Plan and phased engineering and construction via multiple phases. Main Street reconstruction was completed in May 2023, a culmination of a decades-long planning and engineering effort to transform the character of Main Street and attract residents and businesses back into an exciting, vibrant, yet quaint historic downtown setting.
Mile Long Bridge – Bowman Consulting Group, Ltd., H.W. Lochner, Inc., HDR Engineering, Inc., and Quigg Engineering, Inc. for Illinois Tollway
The Mile Long Bridge Project is central to the $4 billion rebuilding and widening of the 22.5-mile Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) which was built in 1958 to bypass Chicago and connect Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. It is a crucial transportation route that generates more than 44 percent of the Illinois Tollway’s $ 1.5 billion annual revenue and moves more than 150,000 vehicles daily. The bridge project, costing $500 million, involved replacing and widening the complex structure while keeping existing traffic lanes open. A dedicated team of design and construction engineering firms went beyond, building two side-by-side bridges that span two railroads, three waterways, local roads and major UPS and BNSF Railway distribution centers. This project involved replacing two 65-year-old structures with two five-lane bridges that include improvements in environmental features, stormwater management, active traffic management and flex lanes to meet the Tollway’s long-term needs.
O’Hare International Airport Multi-Modal Facility – TranSystems Corporation for the Chicago Department of Aviation
TranSystems served as the engineer and architect of record for Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport Multi-Modal facility. The facility comprises rental car floors, offices, a lobby, public parking, a bus loop, a quick turnaround (QTA) vehicle maintenance building, and a highway interchange. TranSystems also designed the airport transit system (ATS) track structure extension and station inside the facility, maintenance and storage facility expansion, and two support buildings. The 2.5 million-square-foot Chicago O’Hare Multi-Modal Facility (MMF) provides a central access point for rental cars, busing operations, and parking. Used by thousands of customers daily, the project extended the airport’s transit system, created a new consolidated rental car and 2,624 public parking spaces and added a connection to Metra and Pace. The design team achieved 36 percent minority and diversity business participation for its development.
Weber Road at I-55 Diverging Diamond Interchange – Benesch and WSP for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
The Weber Road/I-55 project addressed increasing traffic and heavy commercial vehicle demand, focusing on enhancing safety and mobility. It introduced monitoring cameras and detectors to evaluate driver responses, signal timing modifications, advanced overhead arterial signage, and traffic patterns to eliminate conflicts. The integration of an intelligent transportation system significantly improved traffic surveillance along this heavily used corridor. It employed a single traffic signal controller for both northbound and southbound ramps to ensure synchronized transitions in case of signal faults crucial for DDI operation and Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) were incorporated to maintain signal function during power outages.
About the American Council of Engineering Companies
Representing hundreds of companies, ACEC is a voice for the engineering industry in Illinois. With roots dating back more than 100 years, ACEC Illinois represents more than 11,000 engineers, architects, land surveyors and other specialists. Its primary mission is to strengthen the business environment for our member firms through government advocacy, political action, and business education. For more information, visit www.acecil.org.
