Location: Elgin, Illinois
Award: Infrastructure
Project Team
Owner: Illinois DOT
Contractor: Plote Construction Inc
Concrete: Elmhurst Chicago Stone
Slag Cement: Skyway Cement Company
Located in Elgin, Illinois, the McLean Boulevard project is a major infrastructure upgrade designed to transform a two-lane road into a safer, more efficient four-lane corridor. This project didn’t just add lanes; it introduced a landscaped median to reduce traffic conflict points and a ten-foot wide shared-use path that connects residents to the regional trail system.
To keep this high-traffic corridor moving during construction, the team utilized a specialized slag cement mix for everything from low-slump mainline paving and machine-formed curbs to sidewalks and driveways. Slag cement was specifically selected for its superior workability at low slumps, providing a consistent mix that allowed the crew to execute three back-to-back pours exceeding 1,100 cubic yards each.
One of the most impressive results of using slag cement on this project was the accelerated timeline. While the design requirement called for 3,500 psi at 14 days, the slag-enhanced mix met or exceeded that strength in a fraction of the time. This early-age strength gain allowed the team to open the pavement to traffic in just two to three days.
