Indiana and Illinois are putting out a call for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises that are interested in working on the Illiana Expressway project.
The Illinois Department of Transportation, the Indiana Department of Transportation and the Indiana Finance Authority will host a meeting Dec. 4 for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises and other industry firms interested in bidding on Illiana Expressway work. It will be at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center, 411 S. Larkin Ave., in Joliet.
State transportation representatives will explain contracting opportunities on the Illiana Expressway project from 1:30 to 2 p.m. From 2 to 4 p.m., Disadvantaged Business Enterprises can connect with project proposers and industry firms. Check-in begins at 1 p.m.
The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program is federally mandated and provides contracting opportunities to small businesses owned and managed by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
The Illiana Expressway would run 47 miles from Interstate 65 just northeast of Lowell to Interstate 55, near Wilmington, Ill.
IDOT issued a request for qualifications for the Illiana Expressway on Nov. 8 for the Illinois portion of the project. INDOT and the Indiana Finance Authority issued a similar request for qualifications on Nov. 12 for the Indiana portion, along with a project to widen Interstate 65.
Both states are seeking qualifications by private industry partners to develop, design, build, finance, operate, and maintain the Illinois and Indiana portions of the Illiana Expressway.