Governor Quinn Announces $42.5 Million for Circle Interchange Work

CHICAGO – Governor Pat Quinn today announced capital investments of more than $42.5 million for the Halsted and West Harrison Street Bridge canopy and new approaches, part of the ongoing work on the $475 million Circle Interchange construction project in Chicago. The projects are part of Governor Quinn’s agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois’ economy forward.

“The Circle Interchange is one of the state’s largest construction jobs, and continues to create thousands of jobs for Illinois workers, help businesses and industry, and make life easier for motorists,” Governor Quinn said. “These improvements will turn a badly congested area into a safe, efficient and modern interchange for generations to come.”

This newest portion of the Circle Interchange project addresses the Halsted and West Harrison Street Bridges canopy construction near the adjacent CTA station. Existing bridges will be replaced, new roadway approaches constructed, the underpass will be resurfaced, and new roadway lighting and traffic signals installed. Walsh Construction Company II, LLC of Chicago was the lowest of three bidders for the work at $42,559,659. The Illinois Department of Transportation is managing the entire Circle Interchange project.

The four-year, $475 million Circle Interchange construction project in Chicago will create thousands of construction jobs and improve the nation’s most congested interchange. The project started with work on the Morgan Street Bridge and encompasses the bridge, roadway and drainage systems for the Dan Ryan, Eisenhower and Kennedy Expressways and the Congress Parkway that make up the interchange. According to estimates by transportation planners, the improvements will reduce traffic delays by at least 50 percent, save drivers five million hours annually and the improved traffic flow will lead to a savings of 1.6 million gallons of fuel per year.

The Circle Interchange project is part of Governor Quinn’s $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! program, which will support more than 439,000 jobs over six years. Illinois Jobs Now! is the largest capital construction program in Illinois history, and is one of the largest capital construction programs in the nation.