Governor JB Pritzker is announcing the largest construction program in Illinois history. Several bridge construction projects in Marion County are included.
The Governor says the six-year, 41-billion dollar program will improve all modes of transportation across the state.
“That means better roads and bridges, modernized transit and aviation, and faster and expanded passenger rail service. It even extends to improve river ports, new sewers, and water infrastructures and a huge update to bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.”
Pritzker says projects are located in all 102 Illinois counties. This record-level investment is part of the state’s Rebuild Illinois Program.
In Marion County, the highway improvement program includes $500,000 for the replacement of a bridge on Kline Road at Flat Creek a mile northwest of Vernon. In the six-year program, $1.7 million is appropriated for the replacement of two bridges on the Route 161 Extension over Poplar Creek a half mile north of Helm. The project requires local matching funds. The six-year program also includes the replacement of two bridges on Shanghai Road at the East Fork of the Kaskaskia River a mile west of St. Peter Road. The total cost is $500,000.
Other major projects in South Central Illinois are $ 48 million for interchange reconstruction and bridge replacement at the Illinois 15 interchange with Interstate 57/64 in Mt. Vernon, $7.4-million for the reconstruction of Illinois Route 161 from Charles Street to Meadow Lark Drive in Albers, $ 112 million for resurfacing 20 miles of I-64 in Washington County from Beaver Pond Creek to the Jefferson County line, $20.9-million for resurfacing 15 miles of I-70 in Fayette County from the Bond County Line to US 40, and $26.9-million to resurface 18 miles of US 45 from Illinois 37 to Vandalia Road in Clay and Effingham Counties.
The transportation budget also includes $900,000 for the second phase of the construction of a new transfer facility in Mt. Vernon for South Central Transit. Money through Rebuild Illinois funds will be used to purchase and pave a vacant lot and build a shelter for riders which will also include an information and ticket sales station. A steel canopy will contain six bus slips to provide shelter during bus transfers.
