Governor JB Pritzker is announcing the next phase of widening Interstate-57 in southern Illinois.
This latest step will expand nine miles of I-57 to six lanes from north of Illinois 149 to south of Illinois 154.
State Department of Transportation Secretary Omer Osman says it’s part of larger effort to improve the vital freight corridor.
“When we are finished, more than $230 million will have been invested in I-57 through Rebuild Illinois. To add lanes and make critical safety improvements over 26 miles from just north of West Frankfort to the interchange with I-64 near Mt Vernon.”
Governor Priztker says the latest improvements set to begin in January are part of a $268-million effort to update a vital transportation corridor.
“I-57 supports an average of 40,000 drivers and over 14,000 large trucks per day. It’s a vital roadway that is key to unlocking more economic opportunity for Franklin County and across southern Illinois.”
This phase of the project includes replacing the bridges over the Big Muddy River. Other work includes installing median barriers, resurfacing existing lanes and adding rumble strips.
