Tecma Associates is proud to announce our selection as the prime consultant for the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) I-290 Drainage Improvement Project, a major infrastructure effort aimed at mitigating flooding along the Eisenhower Expressway corridor between the Des Plaines River and Central Avenue.
This project will be delivered using IDOT’s Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC) method—an innovative approach designed to enhance coordination, reduce risk, and improve constructability during design and construction. Tecma will lead the Construction Oversight Team (COT) responsible for day-to-day inspection, documentation, materials testing, schedule tracking, and quality assurance throughout the life of the project.
The heart of the project involves constructing a 120-inch diameter storm sewer tunnel beneath I-290 using a tunnel boring machine (TBM). At approximately 65 feet below ground, the tunnel will run nearly 1.5 miles from Pump Station #4 near the Des Plaines River to Central Avenue, crossing beneath key infrastructure including arterial roads and CTA facilities. The project also includes detention vaults, junction chambers, and significant coordination with stakeholders and utilities.
Construction is expected to begin in November 2025 and continue through June 2029, with Tecma providing continuous oversight in close collaboration with IDOT, the Corridor Manager, and the selected CMGC contractor.
We are especially excited to work alongside our experienced and trusted subconsultants: AECOM Technical Services, Inc., American Engineering Consultants, Inc., EXP US Services, Inc., Fuhrmann Engineering, Inc., Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., Material Solutions Laboratory Corp., and TranSystems Corporation. Together, this team brings decades of expertise in construction engineering, materials QA/QC, tunneling, and project controls, ensuring a well-managed and high-quality delivery of this transformative project.