Illinois Honors Illinois Tollway LED Lighting Program For Innovation in Sustainability
The Illinois Tollway’s ambitious LED Lighting Program has earned the Sustainability in Civil Engineering Achievement Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers, Illinois Section.
“This prestigious award showcases the Tollway's commitment to investments in sustainable practices that benefit our customers, our roadway workers and the environment,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “Through our Move Illinois Program, we’re investing in infrastructure that reduces environmental impact, maximizes energy efficiency and embraces innovation. This award illustrates how we’ve transformed an essential function like roadway lighting into a platform for long-term sustainability.”
ASCE Illinois presents its annual Sustainability in Civil Engineering Achievement Award for projects that exemplify creativity and innovation in sustainability while upholding the principles of economic, social and environmental sustainability. The award celebrates engineering solutions that push the boundaries of sustainability and enhance public understanding of its importance in construction.
The Tollway’s LED Lighting Program sets a new industry standard in sustainable infrastructure by converting approximately 22,000 traditional high-pressure sodium (HPS) lights to energy-efficient LEDs across the Tollway’s entire 294-mile system. Currently, about 90 percent of the system is illuminated with LED lights, vastly improving roadway visibility and reducing the frequency of maintenance operations.
LEDs not only enhance visibility, but also cut energy usage by half, reducing maintenance costs and minimizing the exposure of maintenance crews to live traffic. This conversion saves the agency an estimated $700,000 annually in energy costs and prevents more than 5,200 tons of carbon emissions each year.
By proactively reducing its environmental footprint and enhancing roadway safety, the Tollway is setting an example of how innovations in civil engineering can deliver lasting benefits for both infrastructure and the communities it serves.
The recognition from ASCE Illinois underscores the pivotal role that sustainable technologies like LED lighting can play in shaping the future of transportation. As the Illinois Tollway continues its journey toward completing the LED conversion by 2026, the agency remains steadfast in its commitment to sustainability and safety – leading the industry in adopting forward-thinking, eco-friendly solutions.
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