Planning for the Future

•LONG BEFORE the Illinois Tollway was opened for traffic, plans were formulated for the organization of the Maintenance Division with its necessary personnel and equipment. It was organized so that it would be workable and could be efficiently operated at the lowest cost per unit of activity commensurate with established expressway maintenance standards. After 4% yr of operation, this planning has proved to be basically sound. The planning for this operation started with a study of the maintenance operation of existing toll facilities and of the maintenance organizations of the surrounding States. From these observations, an organization that best suited operations under conditions in the area near Lake Michigan was planned. The equipment and personnel for roadway maintenance were based on the winter requirements. For the first 2 yr of operation this type of planning proved adequate to carry out summer activities. After the second year of operation, temporary summer help had to be employed to maintain the trees and shrubs around the buildings and interchanges and to assist in the guardrail painting program. A list was also made of men available for call-out duty during a severe winter storm period. Other than these additions and minor changes, the initial organization has remained.