Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois DOT (IDOT) this week announced the release of a $21.3 billion plan to improve Illinois roads and bridges over the next six years.
The critical investment in communities throughout the state is made possible by the Rebuild Illinois capital plan.
Last year, Gov. Pritzker announced the first Multi-Year Plan under Rebuild Illinois. Since then, IDOT began multiple construction projects including the ongoing $67 million I-255 rehabilitation project in St. Clair and Madison counties. Construction, which began in February of this year, will fix one of the worst roads in the state. By closing I-255 completely, IDOT will be able to complete the work in one construction season instead of several, saving an anticipated $14 million that can be reinvested in other projects. The administration will look to replicate that approach in other parts of the state.
Based on current funding levels, the FY 2021-26 Proposed Highway Improvement Program will improve 3,356 miles of roads and 8.4 million sq ft of bridge deck. Of the total $21.3 billion included in the six-year program, $3.15 billion has been identified for the current fiscal year.
Projects included in the program were selected based on objective criteria, such as pavement conditions, traffic volumes, and crash history. Over the next six years, $6.1 billion of the funding will go toward highway reconstruction and preservation, $4.7 billion towards bridge improvements, $2.6 billion for strategic expansion, $1.8 billion for system support like engineering and land acquisition, and $1.4 billion for safety and system modernizations.
Rebuild Illinois is investing a total $33.2 billion into the state's aging transportation system, creating jobs and promoting economic growth. According to the Governor's Office, Rebuild Illinois is not only the largest capital program in state history, but also the first one that touches all modes of Illinois transportation: roads and bridges, transit, waterways, freight and passenger rail, aviation, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.
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SOURCE: Office of Gov. JB Pritzker
