Illinois Tollway Wins National Perpetual Pavement Award For Work on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway I-90
After 15 years, 57 million trucks and tens of thousands of daily drivers, the full-depth asphalt pavement along the Illinois Tollway’s Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) in Rockford is a successful investment.
That performance is why the Asphalt Pavement Association honored the Illinois Tollway with its Perpetual Pavement by Design Award at the National Asphalt Pavement Association “Road Forward International Summit.”
“Perpetual pavement” is exactly what it sounds like: long-lasting pavement that requires minimal maintenance. These roads are built with a strong foundation that stays intact for generations, with only the top layer refreshed occasionally to maintain a smooth ride.
“The Illinois Tollway’s I-90 project is a textbook example of perpetual pavement in action,” said Kevin Burke, Executive Vice-President of Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association. “Its ability to carry heavy traffic for more than 15 years without resurfacing is a remarkable achievement – combining durability, innovation and sustainability that embodies the very best in asphalt engineering.”
The Tollway’s award-winning 14.1-mile stretch of I-90 in Winnebago County was built with a pioneering approach that combines innovation and sustainability, including:
- Recycled materials like reclaimed asphalt pavement and asphalt shingles reduce waste.
- Layered design protects the roadway base indefinitely, while impermeable interlayers add strength and resilience.
- Stone-matrix asphalt surface delivers durability and smoothness, even under heavy truck traffic.
The performance is impressive considering the high traffic load: An average of more than 36,000 vehicles a day traverse this section of I-90 every day, with nearly one-third of them trucks.
By investing in long-life pavement, the Illinois Tollway is delivering:
- Fewer construction delays for motorist
- Lower maintenance costs
- Sustainable use of materials that benefit the environment
The Perpetual Pavement by Design Award highlights not just a single stretch of roadway, but the Tollway’s commitment to building infrastructure that lasts – providing smoother, safer and more sustainable travel for Tollway customers.