Illinois Tollway Opens Doors to Future Engineers and Builders

Fecha Fecha 2024-10-08

Area high school students pursuing career paths in engineering, construction and heavy machinery took the unique opportunity to tour Illinois Tollway maintenance facilities and ongoing construction projects. 

More than 100 sophomores, juniors and seniors from Argo Community High School in Summit, Homewood-Flossmoor High School, Maine East High School in Park Ridge and William Howard Taft High School in Chicago participated in the visits on October 1 and 3.

“The Illinois Tollway gave students an invaluable, firsthand experience of how our state’s critical transportation infrastructure is built and maintained,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “These visits were designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application, offering students a unique glimpse into future career opportunities in engineering, construction and infrastructure development.”

These field trips were designed to inspire and engage students by showcasing real-world applications of their studies. With hands-on experiences and direct interactions with industry professionals, the visits highlighted the various career paths available within the transportation infrastructure sector.

Students arrived at the Tollway’s Alsip and Bensenville maintenance facilities and were treated to comprehensive tours of the operations that keep Illinois roadways safe and functioning smoothly. 

Students learned how roadway lighting technicians are trained to make repairs and got a closeup look at the array of vehicles and equipment used for snow removal, road repairs and other essential maintenance tasks, including a remote-controlled lawn mower. 

The students left with a deeper understanding of the complex work that goes into maintaining and improving Illinois’ toll roads, including visits to two major construction projects currently underway, the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project and the I-490 Tollway Project. Students had the opportunity to gain insights from the experts charged with seeing these large-scale infrastructure projects through to completion. 

As part of its efforts to build the pipeline of future transportation leaders, the Illinois Tollway continues to support educational initiatives. These visits are a powerful way to spark interest in the next generation of engineers, construction managers and technicians. The agency’s commitment to fostering a skilled workforce ensures that the future of Illinois’ infrastructure will be in capable hands.