Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider have unveiled a six-year, $12.62 billion construction program that will improve roads and bridges throughout Illinois while making major investments in public transportation. The projects are part of Quinn’s agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois’ economy forward, while updating the state's transportation system. The upcoming highway, public transit, rail and airport projects will address critical infrastructure needs while making major transportation improvements throughout the state.
“Illinois is the transportation hub of the nation, and this program will ensure we have the modern infrastructure needed to compete with the world,” Quinn said. “This major investment in roads, bridges and public transportation will drive economic growth in every part of Illinois and create tens of thousands of jobs.”
The fiscal years 2014-19 highway improvement program will improve 2,142 miles of highway and replace or rehabilitate 517 bridges across Illinois. The plan includes $475 million to reconstruct the Circle Interchange in Chicago; $56 million to repair and upgrade I-74 in eastern Illinois; $83 million to resurface and replace bridges on I-57 in Marion, Pulaski, Union, Johnson and Williamson counties; $76.2 million for a new Mississippi River bridge in Moline (in cooperation with the state of Iowa); and $40.4 million to resurface and repair bridges along I-55 in Logan County.
“These projects will make our entire transportation system safer, easier, more efficient and ready to accommodate our current and future needs,” Schneider said. “But they come with another benefit: the fact that we will employ thousands of Illinois men and women, and support numerous Illinois businesses, while construction is under way.”
For fiscal year 2014, the program has allocated $2.24 billion for road projects, $128 million for public transportation, $224 million for rail and $68 million for airport improvements. The total allocations for the multiyear program are $9.53 billion for roads, $1.81 billion for public transportation, $1.121 billion for rail and $159 million for airports.
The plan includes $7.2 billion in anticipated federal funds, $1.9 billion in state funds and the remainder from local and other sources. Additional bond authorization will be required to continue funding these transportation projects. The $580 million remaining for road and bridge projects from Quinn’s Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program is also included in this multiyear program.
