Transportation Projects
Toll Plazas
ISTHA Plaza and Control Building at I-294 and I-80 Interchange
ISTHA Plaza and Control Building on I-294 at Halsted Street Interchange
ISTHA Plaza and Control Building on Route 53 Tollway
ISTHA Plaza and Control Building on I-294 at Willow Road Interchange
ISTHA Plaza and Control Building on I-294 at Golf Road Interchange
ISTHA Plaza Modifications at Rt. 59 Interchange and Beverly Road Interchange
ISTHA Plaza Modifications on I-294 at South Beloit, Marengo, and Belvedere Interchanges
ISTHA Plaza Modifications on I-355 at Boughton Road Interchange
ISTHA ORT Conversions on I-294 at Plazas 33/35/36/39
ISTHA Cash lane renovation on I-294 at Plazas
33/35/36/39
Railway Projects
Metra North Central Service Expansion
Metra Cicero Avenue Station
Intermodal Transportation Facility at Harvey, Illinois
Environmental Review of Metra Sites
Metra Assistive Boarding Device Training
Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Bridge Projects
Chicago Avenue Bridge House
Monroe Street Bridge House
Bridge Inspection
South Ashland Avenue Bridge Inspection
Bascule Bridge Inspection
Parking Facilities
Metra North Central Service Expansion
Metra Cicero Avenue Station
ComEd Libertyville Paving and Drainage
Miscellaneous Transportation Projects
ISTHA Pump Station for Eden Spur
Chicago Marine Safety Station
ComEd Chicago South Transportation Facility
The following are brief descriptions of relevant transportation design, including toll plazas, roadway lighting, control buildings and parking facilities; and construction management/construction assistance projects:
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) Toll Plazas
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Plaza and Control Building at I-294 and I-80 Interchange
Techknow provided MEP and structural professional engineering services for roadway and bridge widening, as well as the reconfiguration of Plazas 43 and 45 from one IPASS express and three manual lanes to two IPASS express, three manual and one automatic lanes. Project involves complete design of toll plazas, control buildings, and expressway at the plaza. Various feasibility studies were also performed during the conceptual design. Disciplines involved civil/structural, mechanical, electrical, and signals and control systems.
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Plazas at I-294 and Halsted Street Interchange
Techknow provided professional engineering services for roadway as well as Plaza improvements consisting of modifications to Plaza 47A, removal of Plazas 47B and C and construction of a new combined Plaza B/C located at the Halsted Street interchange.
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority for Tollway at Route 53 Ramp Plaza
Techknow was responsible for the complete roadway lighting on the entire project. Also provided the wiring design of two new plazas and accompanying control building, maintenance facility parking lot lighting, and communication connections; and the design of watchdog cameras, a message sign.
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority for Tri-state Tollway (I-294) at Willow Road Interchange
Provided professional engineering services for two 2-lane ramp toll plazas at Willow Road. The scope also included providing video, data and telecom interconnect between ramp plazas and existing control building and the resulting modifications to the equipment building. We also provided post design and construction management services.
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Plaza and Control Building for Tri-state Tollway (I-294) at Golf Road
Techknow provided professional engineering services for the design of a control building and two new 3-lane ramp plazas at Golf Road on the Tri-State Tollway. This control building provides power, including backup emergency, to the two plazas as well as equipment to handle video, data and communication signals which are transmitted to the control building through fiber optic and coaxial cables. All of the equipment to transmit the video, data and communication is included in the building. The building has been provided with a reliable HVAC system interconnected to a DDC control system. Techknow also provided construction management services.
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Ramp Toll Collection Modifications at Rt. 59 Interchange and Beverly Road Interchange
Techknow provided complete electrical design engineering for two new 3-lane ramp toll plazas at Rt. 59 and Beverly Road Interchanges, including review of roadway lighting design.
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority for Tri-state Tollway (I-294) at South Beloit, Marengo, and Belvedere Plazas
Provided electrical engineering for the modifications of a canopy sign and control building lighting and electrical design for a new stairway. Also reviewed roadway lighting design.
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Plaza and Control Building at I-355, Boughton Road Plaza
Made modifications to the existing I-355 Plaza 89 by increasing the number of lanes and having dedicated lanes for I-PASS. Existing islands were modified and new islands were added. The existing tunnel was modified by removal of stair and structure. The tunnel was then extended and connected to new control building. Provided design of a new control building No. 2 for the northbound lanes and modifications to control building No. 1 for the North-South Tollway (CIP 93-705). Included offices for supervisor, patron area, cafeteria and toilet facilities for employees and patrons, a canopy, and parking facilities. Services included architecture and structural, electrical, and mechanical engineering.
Railway Projects
Metra’s North Central Service Expansion
Provided design of platforms and parking facilities lighting, signage and landscaping. The expansion includes upgrading the Milwaukee District West Line from Tower A-5 in Chicago to Tower B-12 in Franklin Park and the Wisconsin Central Railroad from Tower B-12 in Franklin Park to County Highway JF in Wisconsin. The upgrades include improvements to the existing station facilities (buildings, platforms and parking lots), extension of the double track and development of new stations (performed by local communities). A total of 11.29 miles of double track and 2w.27 miles of triple track are to be completed in this project. The proposed improvements are to be constructed before the expanded service starts on or before 2006.
Metra’s Cicero Avenue Station
Provided civil design, including drainage; platform and site lighting design, including new electric service for entire station; demolition drawings for Cragin and Hermosa Stations; lighting design for all station structures; power, control and security design for elevator; landscaping design, including irrigation; and post design services.
Intermodal Transportation Facility at Harvey, Illinois
Provided engineering services for an intermodal transportation facility in Harvey, Illinois, worth over $500K as part of a design build team for the Illinois Central Railroad. We prepared all structural, HVAC, plumbing, electrical and lighting designs. This facility is a 7,000 sq. ft. building which acts as the operations facility for round-the-clock intermodal operations for Canadian National Railway. (Expected volume to be 125,000 to 500,000 picks per year) Included are facilities for transportation, marketing and communications staff. The facility also includes a cafeteria. Services include architecture; and structural, electrical and mechanical engineering, and construction management.
Techknow also designed both the inbound plaza (4 lanes expandable to 8 in the future) and the outbound gate (3 lanes). Included is design of pavement, canopies, lighting, traffic control, facilities for supporting cameras, inspection booths, communications and power for both existing needs and future envisioned expansion.
Environmental Review of Metra Sites
The Metropolitan Rail (METRA) retained TECHKNOW to conduct an environmental review of two sites prior to acquisition by METRA. A TECHKNOW team, with civil engineering and environmental consulting expertise, conducted a review which included field investigations of land use and zoning conditions, and evaluation of published data and maps on environmental and agricultural conditions and the presence of flood plains. TECHKNOW prepared a report on conditions as well as recommendations for METRA.
Metra Assistive Boarding Device Training
TECHKNOW is preparing a training program for Metra's front-line staff in using assistive boarding devices. Under ADA regulations, every Metra train will have at least one car accessible to passengers with limited mobility. The scope of training includes topics of operation of uplifting devices (i.e., Ricon lifts); passenger safety; routine maintenance, including inspection; operation of backup system; recognition of passengers' assistive devices; and sensitivity issues when assisting persons with disabilities.
The training program include leader's guide, participant's materials, pre and post-tests, audio and visual aids (i.e., vignettes illustrating case studies or potential customer service problems and job aids such as pocket-size reference guides).
Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Bridge Projects
Chicago Avenue Bridge House (CDOT)
Performing design services including drawings, notes and specifications, for the reconstruction of the bridge houses. All work was done in conformance with CDOT codes and standards.
Monroe Street Bridge House (CDOT)
Performed design services including drawings, notes and specifications, for the reconstruction of the bridge houses. All work was done in conformance with CDOT codes and standards.
Chicago Department of Transportation Bridge Inspections
Performed 1996 biennial and fracture critical bridge inspections and reports for approximately 50 bridges for the City of Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT). The inspections were from the top of the bridges and included pavement, handrails and structures. Services included civil and structural engineering.
South Ashland Avenue Bridge Inspection
This CDOT project involved electrical and mechanical inspection of the bridge. The inspection included the pump house. Also, calculations were performed for required counter weights due to the proposed modifications to the bridge by T.Y. Lin/Bascor under whom the subcontract services were performed. Services included electrical, mechanical and structural engineering; and CAD drawings for modifications.
Chicago Department of Transportation Bascule Bridge Inspections
This project involved electrical and mechanical inspections of 17 bascule bridges for CDOT, and were performed with the bridge in the at-rest position and during a bridge lifting and lowering. The mechanical inspection included open gearing, shafts, coupling, trunnion bearings, braking devices, brakes, limit switches, stops, center locks, lock components and house systems. The electrical inspections included motors, motor wiring, conduit, junction boxes, pull boxes, wiring, lighting fixtures, communication systems, drives, master limit switches, gates, signals, warning and navigational lights, CCTV systems and vibrations and deflections.
Parking Facilities
Metra Parking Facilities
Provided civil, electrical and drainage design services to Metra for parking facilities work, at many commuter train stations, including a new parking facility at Metra's 119th St. Station, under a blanket purchase order.
Parking Lot Design and Construction
TECHKNOW provided design and construction management services for construction and repair of five parking lots. TECHKNOW engineers provided civil designs for new pavement and drainage systems and designs for lighting, landscaping and security. Redesign of traffic patterns was also required to maximize the number of parking spaces. TECHKNOW developed specifications for construction and repair and also managed the work of the contractor selected for construction work.
ComEd Libertyville Paving and Drainage
The 321,000 s.f. pavement in ComEd's Northern Division stores are in Libertyville was deteriorating badly. TECHKNOW surveyed the site, prepared a report recommending repairs and designed new pavement and drainage. Estimated construction of the five phases was $1.68 million.
Miscellaneous Projects
ISTHA Pump Station for Eden Spur
This large pump station, located at Lake Cook Road, was designed to pump stormwater as a result of lowering Eden Spur in order to construct an underpass/tunnel. This station includes pumping equipment and controls and instrumentation. The building also included HVAC, plumbing and electrical design work provided by Techknow.
Chicago Marine Safety Station
This CDOT project involves providing mechanical, plumbing and fire protection design for the safety station located on the Chicago River, near Lake Michigan. The existing facility is to be completely gutted and redesigned.
ComEd Chicago South Transportation Facility
Provided complete A/E services for this 25,000 s.f. building on a 2 acre site for ComEd. The project included vehicle lifts, repair bays, offices, access road and landscaping.
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