SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. George H. Ryan today announced a $10.5 billion, five-year highway program containing $1.2 billion more to repair and resurface existing roads and bridges, and $1.5 billion more to add lanes and build new roads to improve safety, relieve congestion and support development throughout the state.
The proposed five-year plan for highways is part of the Governor's Illinois First program, a massive capital improvement program to provide funding for transportation, school construction, mass transit and other infrastructure needs throughout the state.
"This $10.5 billion road and bridge program reaffirms Illinois' commitment to providing the finest transportation network in the nation," Ryan said. "By revitalizing and vastly improving the highway system serving as the nation's crossroads, Illinois will enter the 21st Century with a renewed dedication to transportation excellence, safety and efficiency that will serve every corner of this state for decades to come."
The proposed $10.5 billion highway program for Fiscal Years 2000 to 2004 provides $3.7 billion over and above the $6.79 billion highway program that would be proposed without additional state revenue. The added revenue over five years will:
Increase overall program spending for repairs, congestion relief and system expansion by 55 percent, including bond proceeds.
Triple the state's investment in projects to relieve congestion and build new roads, supporting development throughout Illinois.
Provide 60 percent more funds -- $120 million more overall -- for targeted assistance to local governments.
Provide the state matching funds needed to fully utilize about $224 million in federal funds earmarked for state high-priority projects.
Enable Illinois to reduce the projected backlog of rough roads 25 percent by 2004, with funding to repair, rehabilitate and resurface more than 1,000 miles of existing roads and 200 existing bridges each year.
Provide 50 percent more money for railroad crossing safety improvements - more than $450 million overall.
Provide for 46 percent more traffic and safety improvements at more than 780 locations throughout the state.
An estimated $345 million in additional annual revenues to support the $10.5 billion highway program will come from increased vehicle license fees and increased vehicle title transfer fees.
The additional revenues will help support bond sales to provide capital for road improvements beginning with an estimated $1.95 billion program in FY2000. Portions of the proposed five-year program depend on enactment of these new state revenues.
Major Project Highlights Under the Plan
Major highway projects that are tentatively scheduled during FY 2000-2004 include:
(Stevenson Expressway) from I-294 (Tri-State Tollway) to I-90/94 (Dan Ryan Expressway). The FY 2000-2004 program includes $282 million for major rehabilitation from the Tri-State Tollway to California Avenue and reconstruction from California Avenue to the Dan Ryan Expressway. The total estimated cost of the project, the largest roadway improvement ever undertaken by Illinois, is $567 million. Mainline roadway and bridge improvements are being scheduled over two consecutive construction seasons, which began this spring.
I-57 at I-294 (Tri-State Tollway). Construction of a partial interchange, land acquisition and engineering to provide access for southbound I-294 to southbound I-57 and from northbound I-57 to northbound I-294 are programmed during FY2000-2004 at $38.9 million. This project is contingent on securing new state revenue.
I-80 from I-94 (Bishop Ford Expressway) to Indiana State Line. Construction of additional lanes for 3 miles, reconstruction, bridge replacement, interchange reconstruction and engineering are programmed during FY 2000-2004 at $221.5 million. This project is contingent on securing new state revenue.
I-94/90 (Dan Ryan Expressway) from 31st Street to I-57. Reconstruction of 9.2 miles of the existing local and express lanes and engineering are programmed during FY 2000-2004 at $550 million. This project is contingent on securing new state revenue.
Hillside Strangler: I-290 (Eisenhower Expressway) from I-88 to US 12/20/45. The FY 2000-2004 program includes $82.1 million for construction of auxiliary lanes, interchange reconstruction, bridge widening, utility adjustments and engineering. The scheduling of this project was accelerated by Governor Ryan to reduce traffic conflicts and to improve the flow of traffic through this congested bottleneck.
US 20 from west of Addison Road to Walnut Street. Reconstruction for 2.4 miles, turn lanes, signal timing, engineering and land acquisition are programmed during FY 2000-2004 at $24.1 million. This project is contingent upon new state revenue.
Illinois 22 (Lake Zurich Road) from US 14 (Northwest Highway) to Quentin Road. Additional lanes for 8.1 miles, bridge replacement, engineering for contract plans and land acquisition is programmed during FY 2001-2004 at $70.3 million. This project includes construction of a bypass at Lake Zurich. This project is contingent upon securing new state revenue.
Illinois 22 (Half Day Road) from east of Illinois 83 in Long Grove to US 41 (Skokie Highway) in Highland Park. Additional lanes for 8.1 miles, bridge replacement and rehab, engineering and land acquisition are programmed during FY 2000-2004 at $55.6 million. This project is contingent upon new state revenue.
Illinois 58/72 (Golf Road/Higgins Road) from west of Moon Lake Road to Roselle Road and west of Fairmont Road to Roselle Road. This is referred to as the Western Portion of the Schaumburg Triangle. Additional lanes for 4.6 miles, lighting and land acquisition are programmed during FY 2000-2004 at $26.8 million.
Illinois 59 (West Chicago Road) from 103rd Street to 143rd Street. Additional lanes for 5.0 miles, signal work, intersection improvement, bridge rehabilitation, land acquisition and noise barriers are programmed in FY 2000-2004 at $32.0 million. Completion of this project is contingent upon securing new state revenue.
Illinois 59 (Division Street) from south of 143rd Street to Illinois 126 (Main Street), under the EJ&E Railroad and over the DuPage River. Additional lanes for 0.7 miles, bridge replacement, utility adjustments, pump station and signal work are programmed at $9.0 million. With additional revenue this project could be advanced to FY2000.
Illinois 64 (North Avenue) from west of Illinois 59 (Ingalton Road) to west of Gary Avenue. Additional lanes for 4.6 miles, bridge replacement, traffic signal modernization, bikeway, engineering, and land acquisition are programmed in FY 2000 at $34.2 million. This project is contingent upon securing new state revenue.
Illinois 64 (North Avenue) from east of Illinois 53 to Villa Avenue. Additional lanes for 3.0 miles, signal timing, and lighting are programmed during FY 2000-2004 at $33.1 million. This project is contingent upon securing new state revenue.
Algonquin Bypass from the north junction of Illinois 31 to the south junction of Illinois 31. New construction for 2.4 miles, engineering and land acquisition are programmed during FY 2000-2004 at $42.2 million. TEA-21 provided $9.0 million in High Priority Project funding for this project. Completion of this project is contingent upon securing new state revenue.
Palatine Road from west of Illinois 83 (Elmhurst Road) to US 45/Illlinois 21 (Milwaukee Avenue). Reconstruction for 2.6 miles, bridge rehabilitation, patching, median barrier, drainage improvements, land acquisition and engineering for contract plans are programmed during FY 2001-2004 at $43.8 million. Completion of this project is contingent upon securing new state revenue.
Willow Road from west of US 45/Illinois 21 (Milwaukee Avenue) to I-294 (Tri-State Tollway). Reconstruction for 1.4 miles, intersection improvement, bridge widening and land acquisition is programmed during FY2001-2004 at $25.6 million. The FY 2000 program includes engineering and land acquisition at $2.4 million. Completion of this project is contingent upon securing new state revenue.
I-74 from I-474 west of Peoria to Pinecrest Drive in East Peoria. I-74 through Peoria was constructed in the late 1950s to early 1960s and does not meet current Interstate standards. Complete reconstruction and modernization of 11 miles through Peoria is programmed during FY 2000-2004 at $370.5 million. Phase I engineering is under way at $9.1 million with design approval anticipated in October 1999. Completion of the project is contingent upon securing new state revenue.
US 51 from north of Macon to the Shelby County Line. Additional lanes for 4.7 miles and bridge work are programmed in FY2000 at $16.4 million. This project will continue the four-lane highway that presently terminates north of Macon. The project is contingent upon securing new state revenue.
US 67 Bypass from north of Roseville to south of Roseville. Construction of a 4.5-mile, four-lane bypass around Roseville to the west is programmed during FY2000-2004 at $18.7 million. TEA-21 provided $8.8 million for the project.
US 67 from the Greene County line to I-72 (Central Illinois Expressway). Construction of a new four-lane highway for 11.8 miles is programmed during FY 2000-2004 at $40.8 million. The project is contingent on new state revenue.
US 67 from the Jacksonville Bypass to 2.6 miles west. New construction for 2.6 miles is programmed during FY 2001-2004 program at $21.2 million. TEA-21 provided $10.0 million for the project. Completion of the project is contingent on securing new state revenue.
US 67 from Godfrey to Jerseyville in Madison and Jersey Counties. Construction of 10.6 miles of new four-lane pavement is programmed during FY 2000-2004 at $80.8 million. The first segment of the improvement will start near the junction of Illinois 267/US 67 in Godfrey and extend 3.0 miles north into Jersey County. TEA-21 provided $11.9 million for the first segment. Completion is contingent on securing new state revenue.
US 136/Illinois 336 -- Quincy to Macomb Corridor. A new four-lane highway from US 24 to Illinois 61 near Mendon was opened to traffic in 1996. Grading and structures for four lanes from Illinois 61 to 3 miles south of Illinois 94 at West Point Road and paving two lanes from Illinois 61 at Mendon to Illinois 61 at Loraine is anticipated to be completed during 1999. ISTEA provided $4.9 million in federal demonstration funds for this project. Engineering from Mendon to 3 miles south of Carthage is in progress. Phase I engineering and soil studies are under way for the segment from south of Carthage to Macomb. Engineering at $9.8 million is programmed during FY 2000-2004 to complete contract plans and soil studies from south of Carthage to Macomb.
Construction to complete 30.3 miles of the four-lane facility from Illinois 61 at Mendon to south of Carthage is programmed during FY 2000-2004 at $68.2 million. Completion is contingent on securing new state revenue.
Construction of additional lanes for 1.1 miles on US 136 from County Highway 18 west of Macomb to Deere Road is programmed during FY2001-2004 at $4.5 million.
Alton Bypass from Illinois 143 to Illinois 267 in Godfrey. Construction of the four-lane Alton Bypass from I-270 to Godfrey is in progress. The segment from I-270 to Illinois 143 is open to traffic. Completion of the remaining 21.2 miles from Illinois 143 to Godfrey is programmed during FY 2000-2004 at $230.2 million. TEA-21 provided $3.0 million for a portion of the land acquisition. The remainder of the cost is contingent on securing new state revenue.
