Gov. Bruce Rauner announced a plan for Illinois to invest $11.05 billion in the state’s roads and bridges over the next six years, including $2.2 billion of state and federal funding in the upcoming fiscal year.
The Illinois Department of Transportation Multi-Year Proposed Highway Improvement Program aims to focus on projects that provide the greatest economic benefit to communities and take advantage of long-term strategies that save money over time.
The governor announced the plan’s release at Peoria’s McClugage Bridge at eastbound U.S. 150, which will be replaced in 2019 at a cost of $205 million with the completion of the final design this year.
Based on current funding levels, the FY2019-2024 Proposed Highway Improvement Program aims to improve a total of 1,945 miles of road and 525 bridges maintained by the state. The multi-year program also includes funding for upgrades to more than 750 miles of local roads and 922,933 sq ft of local bridges. Other plan highlights include $26 million toward the reconstruction of U.S. 20/Rockford Bypass in Rockford; $36 million to replace and repair the Third Street exit and ramps to Martin Luther King Drive in East St. Louis; $12.7 million for additional lanes on 4.5 miles of I-57 from Johnson City to West Frankfort; and $148.4 million for bridge work and other improvements on I-80 through Will County.
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Source: WQAD-TV
