Press Release - Monday, April 26, 2004
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Governor Announces $17.3 Million in Additional Opportunity Returns Funding for Road Improvement Projects in the North Central Region
SPRINGFIELD - Governor Rod Blagojevich today announced that an additional $17.3 million in state funding is being dedicated to new capital road improvement projects in the North Central region. The key improvements, which will begin this summer, will help spur the local economy and create construction jobs. The aggressive campaign to enhance the quality of roads in the North Central region is a major theme of the Governor's Opportunity Returns initiative, his pro-active, comprehensive plan for restoring economic opportunity in the North Central region and throughout Illinois.
Recognizing that safe and reliable roads are vital to capturing new investment in the area, helping existing businesses thrive, and creating future growth, Governor Blagojevich believes that making these capital investments is critical to providing real economic opportunity for the North Central region, both today and tomorrow.
"The new ideas and enterprising spirit of North Central region residents are not constrained by geographic location, yet growth opportunities for their businesses too often are. By expanding and enhancing key roads in the region, we are improving market access in areas where it is most needed. These capital improvements will deliver on the fundamental concept of economic development: expanding economic opportunity and creating better jobs for more people," Governor Blagojevich said.
The 19 North Central region projects starting this summer cover 124 miles of roads.
| County | City | Description | Est. Cost |
| Livingston | Fairbury | US 24-McLean CO. Line to 2 nd St. (3.6 miles) Resurfacing | $620,000 |
| McLean | Gridley | US 24-W. of McLean St. to W. of I-55 (7.3 miles) Resurfacing | $1,205,000 |
| McLean | US 136-ILL 54 to Champaign Co. Line (5.4 miles) Surf. Maint. | $450,000 | |
| McLean | ILL 9-ILL 165 to Arrowsmith Rd. (9.7 miles) Resurfacing | $1,675,000 | |
| Marshall | Lacon | ILL 17 - IL R Bridge to ECL of Lacon (1.2 miles) Resurf. | $200,000 |
| Livingston | Reddick | ILL 17-W. of ILL 47 to W. of Reddick (9.1 miles) Resurf. | $1,800,000 |
| Marshall | Lacon | ILL 26-ILL 18 to Park St. (6.8 miles) Resurfacing | $820,000 |
| Livingston | Forrest | ILL 47-ILL 116 at Saunemin to US 24 (9.8 miles) Resurfacing | $1,235,000 |
| Woodford | Roanoke | ILL 116 & 117-WCL of Roanoke to ILL117 (6.1 miles) Resurf. | $820,000 |
| McLean | Colfax | ILL 165-Cooksville to Colfax (7 miles) Resurfacing | $1,640,000 |
| Livingston | ILL 170 - LaSalle Co. Line to ILL 23 (8.3 miles) Resurfacing | $995,000 | |
| McLean | LeRoy | LeRoy Rd. - US 136 to N. of I-74 (2.7 miles) Resurfacing | $415,000 |
| Livingston | Long Point Rd. - Long Point to IL 23 (3.24 miles) Resurfacing | $390,000 | |
| Livingston | Dwight Grundy | Old US 66-ILL 47 to Old US 66 NE of Dwight (1 mile) Resurf. | $130,000 |
| McLean | Old US 51-S of I-74 to S of Heyworth (7.2 miles) Resurfacing | $1,040,000 | |
| Livingston | Old US 66-N. of US 24 to S. of IL 116 (8.2 miles) Resurfacing | $360,000 | |
| Livingston | Odell | Old US 66-South of Dwight to South of Odell (10.8 miles) Resurf. | $1,390,000 |
| McLean | Lexington | Old US 66-SW of Towanda to N. of Lex. (13 miles) Resurf. | $1,730,000 |
| McLean | Saybrook | Saybrook Spur - ILL 9 to SCL of Saybrook (3.24 miles) Resurf. | $430,000 |
"To create more widespread economic opportunity, it is essential to reduce traffic congestion and free up the movement of people and goods. By making these key road improvements, we are removing the constraints that inhibit businesses from serving their clients, meeting their customer demand, and reaching their economic growth potential. I strongly believe that these investments by the Governor will pay major dividends for the North Central regional economy in the near future," said Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Timothy Martin.
Governor Blagojevich's Opportunity Returns regional economic development plan is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois' history. Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn't work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions - finding areas with common economic strengths and needs, and developing a plan with specific actions for each region. This grassroots effort for the North Central region is a product of significant outreach over several months throughout each region, with business, civic and labor leaders, and elected officials. The more than 40 specific projects that the Governor announced in December for the North Central region are designed to be flexible and effective. Each plan is tailored to deliver real results that local businesses will see, feel, and, hopefully, profit from.
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