(From 25 News) – Central Illinois will see over $300 million come its way to help “Rebuild Illinois.” The massive infrastructure plan of $45 billion was approved by state lawmakers in June.
Democratic Governor JB Pritzker was in Peoria Thursday with Democratic State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth and Democratic State Sen. Dave Koehler touting where the money will be spent.
“We’re investing heavily in this area. We want to make sure you have those roads and bridges that you deserve,” Pritzker said. “Collectively these projects in Peoria and the surrounding region are really all about revitalizing Illinois and building a promising future for our entire state. “
Among the Peoria area projects is $114 million to expand Route 24/Route 9 from Banner to Kingston Mines to four lanes with bridge replacements.
“What that will mean on that death trap is we’re going to save lives, literally save lives,” Koehler said.
“People often forget how the roads and bridges got here in the first place but let’s be clear, they got here because in prior years the government fulfilled its responsibilities to the people,” Pritzker said. “Since then and for far too long our state government has ignored those responsibilities letting maintenance fees pile up to the tune of 10s of billions of dollars. In fact, state government infrastructure funding levels got so low that Illinois nearly lost it’s matching federal dollars for infrastructure. I mean that’s an embarrassment.”
“We’re bringing billions of dollars of economic activity and jobs to Central Illinois. We’re fulfulling our responsibilities to the people,” Pritzker said.
Other improvements outlined to the Peoria area include:
Transportation
- $114 million to expand U.S. Route 24/Ill. Route 9 to four lanes and bridge replacements at Banner to Kingston Mines
- $68.5 million for resurfacing on Ill. 29 and adding a middle turn lane on North Galena Road from Gardner Lane to the McClugage Bridge
- $48.6 million for resurfacing and bridge work from I-74 to the Illinois River in Peoria County
- $49.9 million for interchange reconstruction and bridge replacement on Ill. 8/116 over Tazewell and Peoria Railroad and Ill. 29 in East Peoria
- $41.9 million for resurfacing and bridge work along Ill. 78 to I-474 in Peoria county
- $35 million for bridge rehab and new bridge deck on the Murray Baker Bridge
- $18.7 million to replace Harmon Highway bridge over Kickapoo Creek, BNSF and Union Pacific railroads in Peoria
Capital improvements
- $5.2 million for improvements to Illinois Central College
- $1 million for improvements to Garfield Primary School
- $500,000 for repairs to the Fulton County jail and courthouse
