Director: Bigger isn't better for tollway construction projects

As the Illinois tollway gears up for a $12 billion construction program, super-sized contracts should be avoided, one official contends.

By splinting megaprojects into smaller portions, instead of going with a limited number of large contractors, more minority-owned firms get a piece of the pie, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Director and Chicago Heights Mayor David Gonzalez said at a Wednesday meeting.

The issue surfaced as finance committee members considered awarding separate $23.6 million and $30.7 million bridge and road repair contracts fixing I-88 near DeKalb to William Charles Construction Company and Curran Contracting Company.

Tollway Engineer Paul Kovacs noted that the agency had actually split a $53 million I-88 repair job into two projects with the intent of attracting more competition. He added that “I'm confident we got the best price we could for this work.”

That's still too large, Gonzalez said.

“We should be looking for more opportunities for other smaller businesses. When you put out $23 million and $30 million contracts, it's hard for (smaller) companies to get bonding,” he said.

As the agency continues to award both construction and engineering jobs as part of its $12 billion Move Illinois program, it will continue to “unbundle” the bigger projects, Executive Director Kristi Lafleur said.

“The goal is to try and spread the work around,” she said, adding the tollway also had to “look at the trade-offs.”

For example, working with multiple contractors could have an impact on construction timing and staff time. “The flip side is more competition,” Lafleur said.