Governor Unveils Road Construction Program

Governor Pat Quinn has unveiled a six-year, $8.6 billion construction program designed to improve roads and bridges throughout Illinois while making major investments in public transportation.

The fiscal years 2015-2020 highway improvement program will improve 1,845 miles of highway and replace or rehab 384 bridges across Illinois.  Among hundreds of projects across the state, the plan includes $73.9 million for I-70 resurfacing and bridge repair in the Effingham area, and $2.45 million to purchase four 35-foot diesel buses, three super medium duty diesel buses, eight medium duty diesel buses and one minivan for replacement for the Southeastern Illinois RIDES Mass Transit District.

Here are some of the projects planned for our area during the 2015-2020 time frame:

Interstate 57 from the Little Wabash River to Interstate 70 in Effingham County--resurfacing on 8.9 miles, bridge deck repair and bridge joint repair at a cost of $15.6 million

Interstate 70 from one mile west of US 40 at Brownstown to the Little Wabash River west of Effingham in Fayette and Effingham Counties--resurfacing on 8.3 miles, rubblization on 18.2 miles, new bridge deck, bridge deck repair, bridge joint repair, rip rap and wing wall repair at a cost of $73.9 million

Illinois 128 from the Shelby County line to US 40 in Effingham and Fayette Counties--resurfacing on 12.9 miles at a cost of $5.4 million

Illinois 130 over Range Creek 0.8 mile north of the Jasper County line--bridge replacement is programmed at a cost of $4.1 million