In The News

Illinois and Indiana seek private firm to build Illiana Expressway

Transportation officials are on the hunt for a private firm to design, build and operate the proposed Illiana Expressway toll road south of Chicago.

The Illinois Department of Transportation and the Indiana Department of Transportation have issued requests for qualifications from private firms for their respective portions of the combined 47-mile toll road that, once completed, would connect Interstate 55 in Illinois with I-65 in Indiana. The project is estimated to cost $1.25 billion.

The Indiana portion of the project includes the addition of capacity on I-65 between U.S. 30 and State Road 2.

In their requests for qualifications, the states are seeking a firm that can design, build, finance, maintain and operate the roadway. Ten months ago, the Federal Highway Administration signed off on a joint proposal to make the Illiana a limited-access toll road.

State agencies hope that trucks will use the tollway and stay off local roads in the region.

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