Curved.
Super elevated.
Skewed up to 58 degrees.
Now place that bridge over 13 active lanes of I-294 and reconstruct it while the corridor below is being widened at the same time.
This interstate-to-interstate flyover connecting I-55 to northbound I-294 was one of the first major Tollway contracts Al Lapinskas, PE, led as Resident Engineer.
As the Resident Engineer, Al served as the prime construction manager on-site. He oversaw the contractor’s work, coordinated closely with the design team, and ensured construction aligned with the intent of the contract documents. When field conditions required adjustments, he worked collaboratively with the designer to evaluate impacts before changes were implemented.
On a project this complex, even moving something a single foot required careful evaluation. A light pole shift or minor field adjustment could impact underground utilities, adjacent contracts, or future phases of construction. What might seem like a small change in the field often required coordination with the design engineer and review of surrounding infrastructure before a decision could be made.
When you are building over 13 lanes, there is no room for guesswork. Every shift in staging, every utility conflict, and every nightly lane closure required careful coordination and forward thinking.
With multiple municipalities, utilities, and concurrent mainline contracts in play, the site often felt like a carefully orchestrated puzzle. Al and his team were constantly thinking three to four steps ahead to ensure each piece fit without disrupting the larger corridor improvements.
For Al, that level of complexity is exactly what makes a project memorable.
A Critical Link in a $4 Billion Corridor
The project involved replacing the flyover bridge carrying traffic from Interstate 55 to northbound Interstate 294, along with the reconstruction of the exit ramp to the Hinsdale Oasis. Located between Mile Post 24.0 and 24.5 in Cook County, IL, the improvements were part of the broader Tri-State Tollway corridor widening program.
Work included demolition and replacement of the existing Ramp A flyover bridge and reconstruction of Ramp N, along with construction of a new detention basin and significant storm and sanitary sewer relocation that required close coordination with the Flagg Creek Water Reclamation District. The project also required installation of MSE and retaining walls, moment slabs, ground-mounted noise abatement walls, lightweight fill, and full-depth pavement.
One of the most striking elements of the structure was the installation of 92-inch-tall, curved steel girders.
“Just imagine standing next to one of those girders,” Al said. “They would not even fit in a typical room.”
All of this was completed while maintaining traffic with extensive nightly lane closures and coordinating performance specifications for the noise walls and temporary soil retention systems.
The new bridge was constructed adjacent to the existing structure. Once complete, traffic was shifted to the new flyover before demolition of the original bridge began. All of this occurred while adjacent mainline contracts were under construction, requiring daily coordination.
“This was one of the first Tollway contracts I was a Resident Engineer on,” Al said. “The scale and complexity of it is what I enjoy as an engineer.”
Leadership in the Field
Al Lapinskas, PE on site for a bridge pour.
Al Lapinskas, PE, is the Construction Department Team Leader and Resident Engineer based in Clark Dietz’s Oakbrook Terrace, IL, office. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering from Iowa State University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois.
Today, he leads the firm’s Northern Illinois construction group, overseeing projects totaling more than $700 million and guiding bridge, highway, and roadway construction efforts, ranging from rehabilitation work to large-scale urban infrastructure. Known for his efficiency, organization, and collaborative team mentality, Al brings both technical precision and steady leadership to every project. He is also a graduate of ACEC’s Leadership Series Training Program, reflecting his commitment to continuous professional growth and industry leadership.
For Al, strong leadership starts with understanding the details.
“I like coordinating the submittals and RFIs myself,” he said. “It helps me learn the intent of the plans quickly and build strong relationships with the contractor, designer, and owner.”
A Career Shaped by Efficiency and Mentorship
Al’s path to engineering began in architecture.
Inspired by his mother, an architect, he initially enrolled in architecture at Iowa State. After completing a complex design assignment in a fraction of the allotted time, he realized he was wired for a different discipline.
“I wanted to be in a field where efficiency is appreciated,” he said.
He transitioned to engineering, influenced by his grandfather, a structural engineer who designed dams in Panama, Kuwait, Pakistan, and Venezuela. Seeing his grandfather’s field books and instruments left a lasting impression.
When it came time to choose a firm, people mattered most.
“The people drew me to Clark Dietz. Chester [Kochan] specifically. He’s a great mentor.”
That mentorship, combined with the opportunity to lead complex infrastructure projects like I-294, continues to shape his career today. It reinforces his belief that engineering is about more than plans and specifications. It is about collaboration, leadership, and seeing real-world challenges come to life in the field.
Client Perspective
The project required extensive coordination with the Flagg Creek Water Reclamation District.
James Liubicich, PE, Executive Director, shared:
“The Flagg Creek Water Reclamation District was pleased to have worked with Clark Dietz on this major sewer relocation work required by the Illinois Tollway for the I-294 Expansion Project. This work required a high degree of partnering between design, construction, and operations, and Clark Dietz’s construction engineering team was always helpful, competent, and professional, making this project a success.”
A Project Worth Celebrating
For Engineer’s Week, we celebrate engineers who lead from the field. Engineers who manage complexity with precision. Engineers who keep critical infrastructure moving safely and efficiently.
Boots on the ground, coordinating teams, solving problems in real time, and ensuring that even a one-foot adjustment is carefully evaluated.
For Al, guiding construction on a curved, super-elevated flyover over 13 lanes of live interstate traffic is exactly the kind of challenge that reminds him why he chose engineering.
Read More:
Illinois Tollway, I-55 Ramp A over I-294 Construction
Illinois Tollway, I-294, Flagg Creek WRD Sewer Relocation
Illinois Tollway I-55 Project
