Indiana Finance Authority and Indiana Department of Transportation (InDOT) have shortlisted four development teams to finance, construct, operate and maintain a 12-mile portion of Illiana Expressway, a planned 47-mile corridor linking major Illinois and Indiana arteries. Awaiting federal approval, the $1.5-billion Illiana would connect I-65 in northwest Indiana to I-55 in northeast Illinois, about 58-miles south of Chicago, relieving truck congestion on I-80, an east-west corridor in closer proximity to the city.State transportation officials expect Illiana to generate $2.4 billion to $3.8 billion over the life of the development contract they've proposed, with developers recouping their investments from tolls the

U.S. construction backlogs hit a post-recession high in the final quarter of 2013, a feat that eluded the majority of Midwest states, according to year-over-year data compiled by Washington, D.C.-based Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). ABC's Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) rose to 8.3 months in the fourth quarter, up from 8.2 months in the third quarter (+1.3%) and from 8 months at year end 2012 (+3.9%). By comparison, Midwest backlogs declined from 6.61 months to 6.40 months (-0.21%) in year-over-year comparisons, reflecting poor fundamentals in major metro markets such as Chicago and Detroit.All other regions saw a rise for the

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) on Thursday approved plans by utility Ameren Corp. to construct a $1.1-billion, 380-mile high-voltage power line across sections of central Illinois. Known as the Illinois Rivers Transmission Project, the line will be the largest of its kind in Illinois history as well as the largest undertaken by St. Louis-based Ameren. The utility says the line will promote delivery of low-cost power while improving the reliability and efficiency of the power grid.The project also “will provide Illinois customers greater access to alternative lower-cost energy sources, including wind energy,” says Maureen Borkowski, CEO with Ameren subsidiary Ameren

The Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) Board on Wednesday made a preliminary selection of a Dutch-led team to finance, design, construct, operate and maintain a 21-mile section of Interstate 69 (I-69) extending between Bloomington and Martinsville. If fully approved by IFA and Indiana Gov. Mark Pence, Isolux Infrastructure Netherlands B.V., will break ground on the $325-million section later this year and open it to traffic by December 2016. In addition to Public Sector Pension Investment Board and Grupo Isolux Corsan S.A., team members include AZTEC Engineering Group Inc., and TYPSA (Technica y Projectos S.A.)Begun in 2007, the multi-year, multiphase extension of

Construction employment plunged in the Midwest, as in other regions, in December, according month-to-month comparisons compiled by Arlington, Va.- based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Ohio proved the exception in the Midwest, adding 4,000 jobs in December, a turnabout after several months of declines. By comparison, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin posted job losses ranging from -1.900 to -7,000. From November to December, construction employment decreased in 32 states and increased in 18 states. Gains tended to be modest, in the 1% to 3% range.Though the onset of winter may account for December's declines, “we want to make

The Missouri State Highways and Transportation Commission (SHTC) has suspended a cost-share program designed to accelerate construction of local road projects, citing intent to focus only on maintenance due to a funding shortfall. The 15-year old program helped expedite more than 175 road projects in Missouri. Though the state will complete projects included in its five-year Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, it won't add to the program's pipeline, says SHTC Chairman Joe Carmichael.“At this point, it would be irresponsible to make that promise to citizens when we don't have the money to get those projects built,” Carmichael indicated at transportation conference

Plans to upgrade an Illinois rail line for high-speed travel could proceed as early as this summer, state transportation officials say. Officials also indicated they are targeting a late 2015 completion date for the $265-million passenger line, which will extend between Chicago and Moline. As planned, track, signal, station and rolling stock improvements will occur on trackway extending between Chicago and Wyanet, where new track will link to Iowa Interstate Railroad, carrying service to Moline.The line initially will accommodate two daily round trips per day at speeds up to 79 mph, with an expected travel time of three hours in

The new year will bring new opportunity to the Midwest, even as the region contends with such legacy issues as Detroit's bankruptcy and tighter environmental regulations. Midwest states are accustomed to privatizing public assets to fund public programs, but a proposed tollway linking Illinois and Indiana presents a first for the region: a major P3 project constructed from the ground up. Elsewhere in Illinois, road programs are generating thousands of construction jobs, the result of efforts by Gov. Pat Quinn. Another potential boon—hydraulic fracturing—may be facing a pivotal year in Ohio. The year also may prove a critical one for

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has shortlisted four development teams to construct a 35-mile portion of “Illiana” Expressway, a planned 47-mile corridor linking major Illinois and Indiana highways. Earlier this month, the four teams responded to a request for qualifications to construct portions of the corridor extending through Indiana. As planned, the $1.5-billion Illiana would connect I-65 in northwest Indiana to I-55 in northeast Illinois, about 58-miles south of Chicago, thereby relieving truck congestion on I-80, an east-west corridor in closer proximity to the city.State transportation officials expect Illiana to generate $2.4 billion to $3.8 billion over the life