Proactive Management Delivers Award-Winning Public Infrastructure
CHICAGO, IL — Two municipal projects received top awards at last week’s American Public Works Association (APWA) Suburban Branch awards luncheon.
The Taylor Avenue Underpass in the Village of Glen Ellyn and Progress Parkway in the Village of Schaumburg have been recognized as Public Works Projects of the Year in their respective categories. The projects will move on to the Chicago Chapter level, with the possibility of earning national recognition for public works excellence.
Taylor Avenue Pedestrian Underpass
Village of Glen Ellyn, IL
Category – Transportation: Less Than $5M
The existing Taylor Avenue underpass was a narrow, one-lane passage beneath the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) West Line connecting pedestrians and drivers to residential areas, the Illinois Prairie Path, a local high school and more. A jack-and-bore solution was used to construct a new underpass separated from the existing vehicular one—a feature that greatly improved safety, mobility and access for all users. The new underpass was designed and built in less than six months without impacts to rail service above during construction.
Benesch completed the project’s preliminary and final design and provided construction management.
Progress Parkway
Village of Schaumburg, IL
Category – Transportation: $5M, but less than $25M
Progress Parkway was built to serve a new 225-acre multi-use development and is symbolic of the economic progress happening in the Village of Schaumburg. That new roadway includes 0.75 miles of new pavement, street lighting, drainage improvements, a multi-use path, intersection improvements and more. Mitigating project area conditions—such as unsuitable soils—was no small feat as the project team contended with several adjacent construction projects, including the addition of new watermain, Top Golf facility and an apartment complex.
Benesch provided construction management services on the project.
APWA’s public project awards recognize successful partnerships between consultants, agencies and contractors for public infrastructure improvements. Projects submitted for consideration must demonstrate a commitment to environmental stewardship, community relations, and the development of high quality sustainable public infrastructure.
