Fatal Construction Accident on I-90 Bridge in Des Plaines: What Happened and What Can We Learn?

On April 5, 2016, a tragic accident occurred at a construction site on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) in Des Plaines, Illinois. A 45-ton beam fell from the bridge over Touhy Avenue, killing one worker and injuring three others. The incident raised questions about the safety of the bridge demolition and construction project, which was part of the Illinois Tollway’s plan to build a new interchange connecting I-90 to the new I-490 Tollway.