Visits Ongoing I-74/280 Project and Outlines New Quad Cities Area Construction Projects Included in $1.1 Billion Capital Construction Bill
COAL VALLEY - Governor Pat Quinn today visited the site of a major road project and announced upcoming Quad Cities-area projects that are part of the state's new $1.1 billion capital construction bill. Today's event is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to create jobs and build a 21st-century infrastructure that will drive Illinois' economy forward.
"With major construction projects across our state we are continuing to put people to work maintaining and improving our world-class transportation system," Governor Quinn said. "This highway project and the many other ongoing projects in the Quad Cities area are creating jobs, enhancing safety and improving efficiency in a major economic corridor of our state."
"We are grateful for Governor Quinn's commitment to improving our state's infrastructure and recognizing the many benefits that come with funding transportation projects," Acting Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Erica Borggren said. "This infrastructure project, when complete, will significantly enhance safety and improve travel for motorists on a stretch of roadway that is very important to this region."
Governor Quinn visited the site of a $17.7 million bridge replacement and resurfacing project just east of the Interstate 74/280 interchange. The project includes resurfacing 12 miles of the interstate and replacement of the bridges over Coal Creek. Half of both the east and westbound bridge work is complete, and the resurfacing work is nearly 60 percent done with completion expected in November. McCarthy Improvement Company is the contractor for the work, which started in June 2013. The project is part of Governor Quinn's $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! program, which is supporting more than 439,000 jobs over six years. Illinois Jobs Now! is the largest construction program in Illinois history, and is one of the largest construction programs in the nation.
Other ongoing Quad City projects that are a part of Illinois Jobs Now! include the $16.2 million John Deere Road reconstruction and fly-over bridge, $6.2 million Route 92 widening and resurfacing, $3.8 million Route 6 bridge reconstruction and the $3.3 million U.S. 67 Centennial Bridge structure repairs.
Governor Quinn signed into law last month a new $1.1 billion capital construction program to supplement the work that has been done under Illinois Jobs Now! Quad City regional projects funded as part of this new construction bill include $31 million to resurface 30 miles of Interstate 80 in Henry County; $16.8 million to resurface Interstate 74/Illinois 110/Interstate 80 in Henry County; and $4 million to resurface 14.3 miles of Illinois 40 from Milledgeville to Sterling in Carroll and Whiteside Counties.
"The Quad Cities act as a large gateway to the western United States and see a lot of shipping traffic every year," State Senator Mike Jacobs (D-Moline) said. "This project will not only update and maintain our existing infrastructure for future travel, but also put many residents in the area to work."
"The Illinois Jobs Now! program created by Governor Quinn and funded through our efforts in the Illinois General Assembly has made critically needed improvements to our roads and highways in northwest Illinois," State Representative Patrick Verschoore (D-Milan) said. "Not only am I proud of the fact we are creating jobs through this effort, but we are making needed infrastructure improvements to help our businesses and industries in the region grow long term."
"For too long, the roads here in western Illinois have deteriorated," State Representative Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) said. "These improvements to roads in Henry, Carroll and Whiteside Counties are a vital component to creating jobs and developing our local economy."
The $1.1 billion for more than 210 road and bridge projects statewide will create an estimated 14,300 construction jobs.
In addition to funding $1 billion in projects in the Illinois Department of Transportation's (IDOT) FY2015-2020 Multi-Year Program, the new capital construction program includes $100 million for municipal and township governments to improve infrastructure at the local level. The funding, distributed and overseen by IDOT, will help communities throughout Illinois combat potholes and make other critical infrastructure repairs.
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