Subsurface Utility Engineering for ISTHA

Precise utility locating and relocation helps the Illinois State Tollway Highway Authority identify and prevent potential conflicts before construction.

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) awarded a five-year Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) contract to HBK Engineering, with Ardmore Roderick participating through a Mentor-Protégé agreement. Under this partnership, Ardmore Roderick collaborated with HBK to locate and document existing utilities, mapping their horizontal and vertical positions and identifying underground facilities in potential conflict areas.

Our team performed Quality Level (QL) A-D SUE services, ensuring accuracy through comprehensive QC/QA checks. Responsibilities included scheduling utility locators, managing SUE excavation contractors, and overseeing traffic control, surveying, and subcontractor coordination. The project covered over 850 QL-A locates.

Ardmore Roderick also facilitated coordination with key stakeholders, including ISTHA, IDOT, Cook County Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, local municipalities, ComEd, NICOR, and other affected utilities, securing all necessary permits and approvals.

Through this program and additional contract work, Ardmore Roderick achieved IDOT prequalification for Subsurface Utility Engineering, further strengthening our expertise in utility coordination and permitting.

Ardmore Roderick has once again been included in the current three-year, $3 million Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) contract awarded to HBK Engineering by ISTHA. Under this contract, we are responsible for self-performing assigned task orders, which include locating and surveying existing utility infrastructure at all Tollway maintenance and toll facilities for integration into ISTHA’s GIS database management system.

Our team coordinates efforts with various Tollway departments, consultants, and utility providers, as well as scheduling contractors for SUE locates as needed.