Capital Programs
Capital Programs
The Illinois Tollway is responsible for funding, planning, designing, building, operating and maintaining the toll highway system in Northern Illinois. In order to meet the transportation challenges of today and tomorrow, as well as to keep the system in good working order and provide safe and convenient travel for its customers, the Illinois Tollway has implemented long-term capital improvement plans throughout its history.
Driving Connections Capital Program
In June 2026, the Illinois Tollway introduced Driving Connections, a proposed 15-year, $26.5 billion transformative plan to improve our tollways between 2027-2042. Driving Connections will bring improvements throughout the Illinois Tollway system – across all five tollways and the 12‑county region.
The Driving Connections capital program will improve the Tollway’s affordable and reliable transportation system that connects communities– providing Illinoisans with a resilient, modern system built to support a dynamic region for generations to come. It will help alleviate traffic for Illinoisans – allowing people to spend more time with their families and less time on the road. Driving Connections will also fuel economic development by creating thousands of engineering and construction jobs, support suppliers and small businesses while improving commerce and economic development.
Program Goals
| Strengthen the system |
| Drive economic growth |
| Maximize investments |
| Expand regional access |
| Transform with technology |
Bridging the Future
In December 2024, the Illinois Tollway Board of Directors approved a multi-year capital plan to address connectivity and safety while continuing long-range strategic planning. Based on stakeholder feedback and engagement, Bridging the Future is a seven-year, $2 billion plan designed to continue infrastructure improvements, bridging the gap between the agency’s current and next long-term capital program. Bridging the Future is addressing ongoing modernization initiatives and continuing to support investments in the people and firms working to improve regional mobility.
Bridging the Future includes:
- Connecting infrastructure through interchange work, design and construction at the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355)/Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), Illinois Route 390 Tollway at County Farm Road and I-88 at York Road/22nd Street. Improvements will also be made to the Lake Cook Road Bridge over the Tri-State Tollway (I-94).
- Improving mobility by investing in bridge reconstruction and widening projects on the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294) and the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), including local crossroad and railroad bridges.
- Modernizing the system through maintenance investments such as bridge repairs, pavement rehabilitation and upgrades to toll plazas and Tollway facilities.
- Improving technology in active traffic management and back-office systems, as well as investing in funding for pilot programs and studies.
Bridging the Future is funded by toll revenue. Funding for the Bridging the Future capital plan will not require any adjustments in the Illinois Tollway’s current tolling structure nor any additional debt financing beyond that already planned for the Move Illinois Program.
FOUR KEY THEMES
- Connecting Infrastructure
Improving system access and interconnectivity - Improving Mobility
Expanding capacity and reducing congestion - Modernizing the System
Strengthening infrastructure and upgrading facilities - Preparing for Tomorrow
Exploring and implementing new technologies
Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future
Scheduled for completion by the end of 2027, the Illinois Tollway’s current $15 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, is improving mobility, relieving congestion, reducing pollution, creating as many as 165,220 jobs and linking economies throughout the region.
The 16-year, $15 billion capital program addressed the needs of the existing Tollway system, as well as:
- Rebuilding and widening the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) as a 21st century, state-of-the-art corridor linking Rockford to O'Hare International Airport with its new SmartRoad corridor,
- Opening a new interchange connecting the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to I-57;
- Completion of the new Illinois Route 390 Tollway;
- Delivering the new I-490 Tollway Project;
- Reconstruction of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294).
View capital program reports here.
Read stories (opens in a new tab) of how local businesses and individuals from various backgrounds are taking advantage of the opportunities provided through Move Illinois.
The Move Illinois
Program will:
| Improve mobility |
| Relieve congestion |
| Reduce pollution |
| Create as many as 165,220 jobs |
| Link economies across the Midwest region |
The Illinois Tollway maintains ISO 9001:2015 certification for project development, planning, design management and construction management of capital program projects. ISO certification within these disciplines affirms the Engineering Department's strict standards and rigorous management system.