ROADS/BRIDGES: New Illinois governor halts interstate projects
Jan. 14, 2015
Springfield office wants to review all contracts before they are awarded
When Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner was sworn in on Jan. 12, he declared it would no longer be business as usual. And some business has stopped all together.
Rauner has ordered that several interstate projects be put on hold while his office has a chance to review the contracts. Among the jobs affected are a $168 million bridge widening on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the proposed $1.3 billion Illiana Expressway—a pet project of former Gov. Pat Quinn, who lost to Rauner in the November election.
The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority was prepared to award the I-90 contract on Jan. 7, but the meeting was canceled due to bad weather.
Construction of the eastern portion of the I-90 tollway was expected to begin in the spring. The widening of the western portion (Elgin to Rockford) to eight lanes was completed in December.
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