IDOT PTB 193-16 Value Engineering Study, I-190 at O’Hare Airport

Summary

Kaskaskia Engineering Group, LLC was the Prime Consultant for the Value Engineering (VE) Study for IDOT Work Order 4, PTB 196-16. The study evaluated the proposed reconstruction of I-190 from O’Hare to Cumberland Avenue and Mannheim Road in Cook County, Illinois. The existing mainline and Mannheim Road were constructed in the early 1960s to serve the expanding O’Hare Airport area and under current standards is experiencing a combination of inadequate highway geometry and capacity, impacting the mobility and safety of the traveling public. The purpose of this project is to address operational and safety deficiencies, as well as to provide improved linkage to the regional transportation system and modal interrelationships.

Project

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the study was performed virtually, including all meetings, presentations, and brainstorming sessions. KEG’s team was able to effectively provide all materials needed in a digital format for the team. In addition to participating in the facilitation of the overall VE Study, KEG personnel provided expertise in the areas of transportation, environmental, and geotechnical engineering.

Participation in the VE study included the initial brainstorming meeting, which produced 75 potential ideas of which 57 were discussed and evaluated. The Team then reduced the potential ideas to 47 design suggestions and 10 design recommendations, all of which were studied in detail. The recommendations evaluated by the VE Team included:

• I-190 westbound ramps between Bessie Coleman and Mannheim Road Redesign of the ramp to reduce overall ramp length
• Modifications to ramp access to Mannheim NB and Multi-Modal Facility (MMF)
• Modified ramp spacing between the NB I-294/River Rd entrance ramp and WB I-190 to Mannheim exit ramp
• Relocation of Toll Plaza 31- O’Hare West upstream
• I-190/Bessie Coleman at Terminal 5 improvements and access to I-190 EB
• Mannheim Rd access to I-190 EB
• I-90 WB and I-190 EB access to I-294 SB
• I-190 EB access to I-294 NB/I-90 WB
• I-190 Access to River Road
• Modification to Mannheim Rd mainline to accommodate two-lane entrances ramps to/from I-190

After studying the 10 design recommendations and evaluating them for potential cost savings and performance improvements, the VE Team prepared and presented the results to project stakeholders from IDOT. KEG’s professionals also participated in the preparation of the Value Engineering Study Final Report and ultimately submitted the report to IDOT for approval.