The Illinois Tollway board of directors has awarded a contract for the reconstruction of northbound Mile Long Bridge on the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294).

The $184.6m contract is claimed to be the largest construction award by the agency so far.

FH Paschen SN Nielsen & Associates based in Chicago has been awarded the contract.

As part of the Tollway’s 15-year, $14bn capital programme, the I-294 is being reconstructed to increase capacity, reduce congestion and improve travel reliability.

“The I-294 is being reconstructed to increase capacity, reduce congestion and improve travel reliability.”

The Mile Long Bridge carries northbound and southbound traffic. The contract is the first of two construction contracts approved by Tollway board to reconstruct the bridge structures.

Construction is expected to begin this year and complete by 2023. During this time period, travellers will be able to access four lanes in each direction.

The Mile Long Bridge was built in 1958 and carries up to 150,000 vehicles every day over three water sources, two railroads, local roads and a UPS distribution centre and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway.

The I-294 Mile Long bridge contract is a part of six new construction contracts awarded by the board, with a total value of approximately $228.7m.

This year, Tollway board approved contracts worth nearly $375.9m for construction and professional engineering, as a part of the capital programme.