GOV. BLAGOJEVICH RALLIES WITH LEADERS THROUGHOUT NORTHWEST ILLINOIS FOR THE PASSAGE OF A $3.2 BILLION CAPITAL BILL THAT WILL CREATE 230,000 JOBS

GALENA - Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich joined business and labor leaders and elected officials in Galena today to aggressively advocate for the passage of a $3.2 billion capital bill that would include approximately $194 million for several critical road projects across Northwest Illinois.

 

"There are roads and bridges and highways across Illinois that need to be built and need to be fixed.  We need to build new schools and help commuters who rely on public transportation.  These are things that need to be done.  So we should do them.  And if we do them, we will give people in Galena and all around Illinois the opportunity to go to work.  230,000 jobs all across Illinois.  We cannot let partisan politics get in the way of progress.  We must all work together in a constructive way to create more jobs throughout our state.  So please, let's pass this jobs bill.  Let's put even more people to work," Gov. Blagojevich said.

  

The following are the projects that would be funded under a capital bill:

 

Consists of design and engineering for 6.5 miles of new roadway construction beginning at the intersection of U.S. 20 and IL 84, northwest of Galena, and continues southeast in a clockwise direction to Horseshoe Mound, approximately 0.7 of a mile northwest of Mount Hope Road, east of Galena.

 

An additional $10.25 million in federal and state funding for work on U.S. 20 between Freeport and Galena.

Pre-construction activities for this project on U.S. 20 begins at the intersection of U.S. 20 and U.S. 20 Business Route, west of Freeport, and ends just west of the intersection of U.S. 20 and IL 26, north of Freeport, for a total of 4.01 miles.

Widen U.S. Route 30 from Rock Falls to Round Grove, Whiteside County.

                                                                 

Development of a coordinated trail system and parking in Dixon

 

Increasing the height on the IL Route 82 Railroad Underpass in Geneseo.

 

Construction of a pedestrian sidewalk along South Chicago Street in Geneseo.

 

Gov. Blagojevich's Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most 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 - each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges.  Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses.  It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs.  Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.