CLIENT

IL State Toll Highway Auth.

PROJECT START DATE

2005

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE

2008

ILLINOIS

Singh & Associates, Inc. (SINGH) provided civil, electrical and MEP Engineering services to the Toll Authority as a subconsultant for the Open Road Toll Plaza conversion of three mainline toll plazas on the Northwest Tollway at Plaza 1 (Beloit), Plaza 5 (Belvidere),Plaza 7 (Marengo), and Plaza 9 (Elgin) in Winnebago, Boone, McHenry and Kane Counties.

The Tollway intended to relieve congestion and offer motorists a speedier alternative to traditional toll collecting facilities. The conversion from traditional toll plazas to a barrier-free system, the first in the nation, allows I-PASS users to travel at highway speeds on the mainline while tolls are collected electronically by an overhead gantry, helping to reduce congestion and travel times. Vehicles without I-PASS will pull to manual lanes off the mainline to pay cash to toll collectors in booths, which will not impact the free-flow of traffic on the mainline. Separating I-PASS traffic from vehicles paying cash will also allow safe transit through the toll plazas.

The conversion required reconstruction or rehabilitation of existing toll collection facilities and design tasks to upgrade existing toll plazas, and new designs for the proposed ORT lanes. This included: antenna tower relocation; electric utility relocation and new service coordination; site utility and electronic equipment survey and record drawings; temporary dynamic message sign; emergency generator for critical and non-critical loads and many other services. SINGH was responsible for contract plans, specifications, quantities and cost estimates for this project.