Marion County Highway Engineer Mike McCormick has compiled a list of road and bridge projects that have been funded during the next five years. The list includes six bridges that are either closed or in bad condition.
The projects for next year include the $2.5-million Green Street and Odin Road safety improvement project scheduled for bid in January. The project is 80-percent federally funded.
Work next year includes replacement of two closed bridges. $700,000 is set aside for replacement of the Kline Road Bridge northwest of Vernon. The project is 100-percnet federally funded. $600,000 is appropriate for replacement of the Range Road Bridge north of Sandoval. It is 80-percent state funded and 10-percent county.
Two railroad crossings are scheduled to be signalized with approach improvements. The work on the Basom and Curry Road crossings are 100-percent funded through the Illinois Commerce Commission grade crossing protection fund.
Money is also included in next year’s budget for site prep for the new Marion County Highway Department maintenance facility on U.S. 50 at South Hoots Chapel Road. $150,000 is included in the 2025 budget and $2-million for actual building construction in 2026.
Fiscal year 2025 projects include the replacement of the Race Track Road Bridge 7-10ths of a mile south of Route 161 that has the south side of the structure sinking.
Fiscal year 2026 projects include replacement of two closed bridges. $700,000 is set aside to replace a bridge on Shanghi Road 1.5-miles north of Kinmundy. It is 100-percent federally funded. $800,000 is appropriated to replace the Meridian Road Bridge on the Marion-Clinton County line north of Sandoval.
Projects funded for 2027 include replacement of the Poplar Creek Bridge over the Route 161 Extension at a cost of $2-million. 80-percent of the cost is federally funded and 20-percent county. Replacement of a bridge on Quail Run Road near the Kinmundy Road is also scheduled. It is 80-percent state funded and 10-percent county funded.
In 2028, the county will be able to replace the Skillet Fork Bridge on the Route 161 Extension at a cost of $ 7-million. It is 80-percent federally funded and 20-percent county funded.
McCormick is continuing to ask those driving trucks over 15 tons not to use the badly deteriorated bridge. He wants heavy traffic will cause further failure and the need to close the bridge to all traffic. McCormick says State Police and Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies are writing very expensive tickets to violators.
McCormick hopes funding may become available for other current unfunded projects.
