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Ex-tollway chief engineer Dailey leaves smooth legacy

He left the job of chief engineer for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority in December to join the North Texas Tollway Authority, but Jeff Dailey has left as his legacy a smoothly running $5.3-billion, 10-year overhaul and expansion of much of the 274-mile system.

Illinois Dot Tollway expansion is going well.

Almost halfway through, the program is on time and on budget, with less than 5% in change orders and no major claims, officials say (ENR 6/11/07 p. 12). Despite some pes-simistic early predictions, a key $730-million, 12.5-mile-long section of Interstate 355 opened last November, early and under budget, surviving a decade-long hiatus.

Embarking on the expansion program, Dailey said last year was like going “from 0 to 100 mph” in a short time. Leading some 500 staffers and consultants, Dailey pushed for a corridor management approach, performance-based specifications and contractor outreach all key factors in the success of the program. “Jeff led an extremely aggressive program and was willing to work with industry,”says David Lorig, president of Des Plaines, Ill.-based Lorig Construction.

Multimedia  View Award of Excellence Luncheon and Acceptance Speech of Jeff Dailey April 3, 2008

“His style of management lets [others] innovate,” notes Sharif Abou-Sabh, senior vice president with HNTB Cos., Kansas City, Mo., the program manager.