The Federal Highway Administration and Federal Aviation Administration have approved construction of a $3.6-billion Illinois tollway intended to improve access from Chicago suburbs to O'Hare International Airport. The tollway, part of a 15-year, $12-billion capital program named Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, will replace the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway, a corridor that doesn't connect local roads to O'Hare Airport.Plans call for construction of an all electronic tollway that will bypass O'Hare on its western border and connect to the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the Tri-State Highway (I-294), a pair of existing corridors. The Elgin-O'Hare Expressway will be
The Federal Highway Administration and Federal Aviation Administration have approved construction of a $3.6-billion Illinois tollway intended to improve access from Chicago suburbs to O'Hare International Airport. The tollway, part of a 15-year, $12-billion capital program named Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, will replace the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway, a corridor that doesn't connect local roads to O'Hare Airport.Plans call for construction of an all electronic tollway that will bypass O'Hare on its western border and connect to the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the Tri-State Highway (I-294), a pair of existing corridors. The Elgin-O'Hare Expressway will be
Architectural billings accelerated to their strongest pace in nearly three years in October, with all U.S. regions logging positive growth for the first time since the start of the Great Recession, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Architectural Billing Index (ABI). AIA reported an October score of 52.8, up from 51.6 in September. Any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings.With a score of 52.8, the South led all regions, followed by the Northeast (52.6), West (51.8), and Midwest (50.8). Both the Midwest and Northeast were in negative territory the previous month, with scores of 49.5 and
DialCasey Dial has been named project manager with St. Louis-based contractor and CM S.M. Wilson & Co. Dial, who joined the firm in 2005 as a project engineer, has worked on a variety of educational and industrial projects, including the recently completed $21.1-million expansion of Webster Groves High School in St. Louis. Related Links: http://midwest.construction.com/midwest_construction_people/2011/0124_Top20Under40-1.asp Scott Deliberto has joined Chicago-based construction manager Eidco Construction as a site superintendent. Deliberto previously was a project manager for Metropolitan Properties of Chicago, for which he worked on numerous projects, including the adaptive reuse of Metropolitan Tower, a 242-unit residence, and a 13,600-sq-ft retail
Average construction backlogs rose to eight months in the third quarter, up 3.5% from the previous quarter, and the second consecutive quarter of such growth, according to data compiled by the Washington, D.C.-based Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Midwest backlogs also rose for a second consecutive quarter – from 6.50 months to 6.97 months -- but continued to lag averages in the West (8.93 months), South (8.45 months) and Northeast (7.62 months).“Gradual recovery characterizes the Middle States region, though certain communities such as energy-rich North Dakota, economically vibrant Minnesota and states with rebounding auto manufacturing sectors like Indiana are experiencing
U.S. Architecture firms saw improving business conditions for the second consecutive month in September, with billings growing at their fastest rate in two years, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Architectural Billing Index (ABI). AIA reported a September ABI score of 51.6, up from 50.2 in August. Any score above 50 indicates an increase in billingsHowever, conditions aren't improving in all regions. As in August, firms in the Western (53.4) and Southern (51.9) regions reported growth, while those in the Northeast (49.5) and Midwest (47.2) continued to show weaker billings.September marked the second consecutive month of growth in
A 2009 fire at a casino in Joliet, Ill., has sparked a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against six companies involved in renovations and additions to the structure at the time of the blaze. On Tuesday, attorneys for the former Empress Casino filed an $83.5-million suit in Cook County Circuit Court alleging that contractor W.E. O'Neil, Chicago, should not have allowed welders to perform work in the casino's kitchen, the source of the fire, due to the presence of combustible cooking residue in kitchen duct work.The suit outlines a scenario in which a welder employed by Addison, Ill.-based Jameson Sheet Metal accidentally sparked
Thirty states added construction jobs in September, but Illinois, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin were not among them, according to year-over-year data compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). By comparison, Indiana (+6,300 jobs, 5%) and Ohio (+1,000, 6%) remained in positive territory, as they have in previous month-over-month comparisons this year.On a percentage basis, regional losses were greatest in Wisconsin (-5,300 jobs, -6.1%), followed by Illinois (-8,400 jobs, -4.4%), Missouri (-2,700 jobs, -2.6%) and Michigan (-3,000 jobs, -2.4%).Among states losing construction jobs during the past year, Alaska lost the highest percentage (-2,400 jobs, -16.1%), followed by New
Construction job losses in Chicago slowed in August after recording the highest spikes of any metro market in the nation in June and July, according to year-over year data compiled by the Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). The last full month of summer proved the charm for Chicago, which lost 3,300 jobs in August, as compared to 5,000 jobs in June and July.In year over year comparisons, St. Louis (-5,100 jobs, -4%), Detroit (-3,000 jobs, -14%), and Milwaukee (-2,100 jobs, -8%) also logged losses in August, while Indianapolis (+3,300 jobs, +8%) continued showing signs of improvement. Cleveland
Illinois logged more construction job losses in August than any state in the nation, according to new data compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). In year-over-year comparisons, Illinois lost 11,500 jobs in August, representing a 5.9% dip in the state's construction employment rate. August also marked the second consecutive month Illinois led the nation in annual employment declines.Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin also recorded substantial annual declines in construction employment in August. Indiana and Ohio, both beneficiaries of Detroit's resurgent auto industry, saw construction employment rise for the same period, with increases of 10,400 (8.7%) and 4,500
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