Illinois First Bolsters New Five-Year State Road Program

SPRINGFIELD - Governor George H. Ryan said today that the Illinois FIRST public infrastructure program has enabled state transportation officials to double the size and scope of the annual road improvement program over the last two years.

Ryan unveiled a $2.3 billion highway improvement program for Fiscal Year 2001 - an 18 percent increase over the current year's $1.9 billion construction program and a 101 percent jump over the $1.14 billion effort in FY 1999. The FY 2001 program will mean more than 55,000 jobs in construction and related industries.

"Illinois FIRST is allowing us to greatly expand road improvements and new constructions in all areas of the state," Ryan said. "Because of Illinois FIRST, the people of this state will see more potholes filled, more lanes added to reduce traffic congestion and more bridges repaired."

Between FY 1996 and FY 1999, the size of the annual road program grew by only 1 percent, from $1.13 billion in 1996 to $1.145 billion in 1999.

"Because of Illinois FIRST, the 2001 road program will include work to clear up the 'Hillside Strangler,'" Ryan said. "It will include the first phase of reconstructing Interstate 74 through Peoria, the start of a new bridge over the Rock River in Moline, work on the U.S. Route 67 corridor in Western Illinois and on Illinois Route 336 from Quincy to Macomb, as well as work on U.S. Route 45 from Harrisburg to Eldorado."

The FY 2001 projects are part of a proposed $10 billion highway construction program for 2001 to 2005. This five-year program is 35 percent larger than the $6.5 billion in construction spending that legislators agreed to during the past five years.

Because of Illinois FIRST, the new five-year repair program ensures that 85 percent of the state's highway pavement will be deemed to be in "good" to "excellent" condition. The five-year road program will improve more than 4,600 miles of road and replace or rehabilitate more than 1,200 bridges.

The road program also addresses severe traffic congestion problems throughout the metropolitan Chicago area and steps up safety improvements at railroad crossings.

The largest revenue share of the five-year program, $6 billion, is comprised of state funds. The federal government will contribute $3.8 billion and local governments will contribute $299 million in "matching" funds.

Over the five years, the road program will allocate $325 million in special awards to help cities, counties and townships improve roads controlled by local governments. In addition, these governments receive an average of $600 million annually in state motor fuel tax revenues. Major projects in the Fiscal Year 2001-2005 program include:

• Hillside Bottleneck: Interstate 290 (Eisenhower Expressway) from Interstate 88 (East-West Tollway) to US 12/20/45. The FY 2001-2005 program includes $50.1 million for construction of auxiliary lanes, interchange reconstruction, bridge widening, bridge replacement, ramp widening and engineering. Of this total, $43.9 million is programmed in FY 2001. Prior programs have allocated $82.1 million.

• Interstate 80 (Borman Expressway) from Interstate 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 2001-2005 at a cost of $298.7 million. Of this total, $450,000 is programmed in FY 2001 for completion of Phase I engineering.

• Interstate 80 at US 45 (96th Avenue); 179th Street to Metra and at 191st Street in Will County. Reconstruction for 1.5 miles, interchange reconstruction, bridge rehabilitation, intersection improvement, lighting and construction engineering are programmed in FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $23.2 million.

• Interstate 74 from Interstate 474 west of Peoria to Pinecrest Drive in East Peoria. Complete reconstruction and modernization of 11 miles through Peoria is programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $373 million. The total estimated cost of the project is $388 million, the largest downstate interstate modernization project ever undertaken by Illinois. Phase I engineering is currently under way with design approval anticipated by summer 2000. The FY 2001 program includes $17.8 million for engineering, land acquisition and miscellaneous work.

• Interstate 74/US 6 at Rock River Bridge in Moline. Replacement of the Rock River Bridge is programmed in FY 2001 at a cost of $28.8 million.

• Interstate 70 from the North Fork of the Embarras River in Clark County to the Indiana state line. Reconstruction of 21.3 miles of four-lane pavement and bridgework are programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $128.5 million. Of this total, $4.8 million is programmed in FY 2001 for engineering. An additional $670,000 is programmed during FY 2002-2005 for the development of a high-speed weigh-in-motion weighing station.

• Interstate 64/55/70 Interchange (Tri-Level) in East St. Louis. Reconstruction of the interchange at the three interstate routes is necessary to improve traffic operation conditions, and provide access to the local street system. Construction and associated work are programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $75.5 million. Of this total, $2.5 million is programmed in FY 2001 for engineering, land acquisition and miscellaneous work.

• Interstate 64 from Illinois 157 to Lincoln Trail at O'Fallon in St. Clair County. Engineering for contract plans and construction of additional lanes to continue the six-lane section 5.9 miles to O'Fallon are programmed during FY 2002-2005 at a cost of $28.1 million.

• Interstate 55 from Interstate 55 Business Loop to Interstate 74 northwest of Normal. Reconstruction, construction of additional lanes, bridge widening, bridge replacement and reconstruction of the Illinois 9 interchange are programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $44.6 million. Of this total, $21.7 million is programmed in FY 2001 for work south of Illinois 9.

• 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. Construction contracts are pending to continue the four lanes from near Mendon to the Adams/Hancock County line. The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) in 1991 provided $4.9 million in federal demonstration funds for this project.

Construction to complete 18.5 miles of the four-lane facility from the Adams/Hancock County line to 2 miles east of Carthage is programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $63.4 million. Of this total, $13.5 million is programmed in FY 2001 to complete 6 miles from the Adams/Hancock County line to north of Illinois 94. The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) provided $3.8 million in federal High Priority Project funds for this project.

Construction of additional lanes and resurfacing on 2.3 miles from Township Road (TR) 226 easterly to Deere Road west of Macomb and a new interchange for the Macomb northwest bypass are programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $14.5 million. Of this total, engineering for contract plans, land acquisition and utility work at a cost of $815,000 are programmed in FY 2001 for the segment between TR 226 and County Highway 18.

Engineering for contract plans to complete the four-lane highway from 2 miles east of Carthage to Macomb is programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $7.2 million. Of this total, engineering for soil investigations is programmed in FY 2001 at a cost of $700,000. Construction of this segment is not currently funded.

• US 67 Corridor. The US 67 corridor extends nearly 280 miles from Alton north to Rock Island. The two- and four-lane improvements funded to date total $450 million. During FY 2001-2005 a total of $400 million is programmed. The estimated unfunded cost to complete the four-lane sections from Macomb southward to the Alton Bypass is $720 million. The following projects are part of the FY 2001-2005 program:

• Bypass from north of Roseville to south of Roseville. Construction of a new 4.5 mile four-lane westerly bypass around Roseville is programmed in FY 2001 at a cost of $16.1 million. Landscaping will be completed after construction at a cost of $103,000. TEA-21 provided $8.8 million in High Priority Projects funds for this project.

• From US 136 east of Macomb to west of Jacksonville. Phase I engineering for location, design and environmental studies for four-lane construction from Macomb to Jacksonville is under way. Within these limits, engineering for contract plans for a new interchange at US 136 east of Macomb is programmed during FY 2002-2005 at a cost of $1.6 million. Engineering for contract plans for 16.1 miles of four-lane construction from US 136 southerly to Illinois 101 in Schuyler County is programmed during FY 2002-2005 at a cost of $4.1 million. Construction of these projects is currently not funded. Also, wetland mitigation and land acquisition over the corridor are programmed in FY 2001 at a cost of $5.2 million.

• From the Jacksonville Bypass to 2.6 miles west. New construction for 2.6 miles is programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $17.7 million. Of this total, engineering for contract plans is programmed in FY 2001 at a cost of $675,000. TEA-21 provided $10 million in High Priority Project funds for this project.

• From the Greene County line to Interstate 72 (Central Illinois Expressway). New construction of four-lane highway for 12.1 miles is programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $35.2 million. Engineering to develop contract plans is in progress; additional engineering for contract plans and land acquisition are programmed in FY 2001 at a cost of $758,000.

• From Godfrey to Jerseyville in Madison and Jersey Counties. Construction of 10.6 miles of new four-lane pavement is programmed during FY 2002-2005 at a cost of $78.4 million. Engineering for contract plans is under way. The first segment of the improvement will start near the junction of Illinois 267/US 67 in Godfrey and extend 3 miles north into Jersey County. TEA-21 provided $11.9 million in High Priority Project funds for the first segment.

• Alton Bypass from Illinois 143 to Illinois 267 in Godfrey. Construction of the four-lane Alton Bypass from Interstate 270 to Godfrey is in progress. The segment from Interstate 270 to Illinois 143 is open to traffic. Completion of the remaining 21.2 miles from Illinois 143 to Godfrey is programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $207.6 million. Of this total, $18 million is programmed in FY 2001 for pre-construction work and construction of a frontage road from Illinois 111 to Airline Drive. TEA-21 provided $3 million in High Priority Project funds for a portion of the land acquisition.

• US 45 from Illinois 13 at Harrisburg to north of Illinois 142 at Eldorado. Improvement of 7.4 miles to four lanes is programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a total cost of $25.8 million. Of this total, engineering and land acquisition are programmed in FY 2001 at a cost of $2.1 million. TEA-21 provided $10.2 million in High Priority Project funds for this project.

• US 41 (Lake Shore Drive) from Interstate 55 to 67th Street in Chicago. Reconstruction for 6.1 miles, bridge replacement, a pedestrian underpass and median barrier, and landscape rehabilitation are programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $93 million. Of this total, engineering for contract plans and utility adjustments are programmed in FY 2001 at a cost of $5 million. TEA-21 provided $5.9 million in High Priority Project funds for project.

• US 41 (Lake Shore Drive) Access Improvements near USX Steel Site in Chicago. Reconstruction is programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $65.6 million, with $17.5 million of work programmed in FY 2001. TEA-21 provided $2.8 million in High Priority Project funds for this project.

• US 20 from west of Addison Road to Walnut Street in Addison & Elmhurst. Reconstruction for 2.4 miles, bridge rehabilitation, bi-directional left turn lane, signal timing, engineering and lighting are programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $18.8 million.

• US 6 (159th Street) from Interstate 294 in Markham to Illinois 1 in Harvey. Reconstruction for 2.3 miles, bridge replacement, intersection improvement, lighting, utility adjustment and construction engineering are programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $56.4 million. Of this total, engineering for contract plans and land acquisition are programmed in FY 2001 at a cost of $2.8 million. TEA-21 provided $1.2 million in High Priority Project funds for this project.

• Illinois 64 (North Avenue) from east of Illinois 53 to Villa Avenue in DuPage County. Additional lanes for 3 miles, signal timing, landscaping, engineering and lighting are programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $31.9 million. Of this total, construction engineering is programmed in FY 2001 at a cost of $2.5 million.

• Illinois 59 from 111th Street to 143rd Street in Plainfield. Additional lanes for 4 miles, signal work, intersection construction, noise barriers, utility adjustment, land acquisition and construction engineering are programmed in FY 2001 at a cost of $25.4 million.

• 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, land acquisition, and landscaping are programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $22.7 million. Of this total, land acquisition is programmed in FY 2001 at a cost of $2 million.

• Illinois 53 (Rohlwing Road) from Elgin O'Hare Expressway in Itasca to Illinois 64 (North Avenue). Additional lanes for 5.7 miles, bridge replacement, land acquisition and engineering are programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $36.4 million. Of this total, engineering for location studies and land acquisition are programmed in FY 2001 at a cost of $912,000.

• Illinois 50 (Cicero Avenue) at 127th Street and Interstate 294 in Alsip. Interchange reconstruction, bridge rehabilitation, utility adjustment, lighting, and construction engineering are programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $23.1 million. Of this total, $20.5 million is programmed in FY 2001. TEA-21 provided $23.7 million in High Priority Project funds for this project.

• 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 2001-2005 at a cost of $38.1 million. TEA-21 provided $9 million in High Priority Project funds for this project.

• Illinois 29 from Rochester to Taylorville. Construction projects and associated work totaling $39 million are programmed to complete 9.6 miles of new four-lane pavement on the total distance of 18.8 miles between Rochester and Taylorville. Engineering for contract plans is under way.

New four-lane construction for 5.1 miles from Rochester to 2.1 miles north of the Christian County line is programmed in FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $20.1 million. Of this total, engineering for contract plans is programmed in FY 2001 at a cost of $1.4 million.

New four-lane construction for 4.5 miles from south of Edinburg to north of Illinois 104 at Taylorville is programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $18.9 million. Of this total, engineering for contract plans is programmed in FY 2001 at a cost of $1.6 million.

• Illinois 25 at Dunham Road/Stearns Road in Bartlett, Kane County. Intersection reconstruction, land acquisition, and engineering are programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $8.2 million. Of this total, engineering for contract plans is programmed in FY 2001 at a cost of $500,000.

• Illinois 22 (Lake Zurich Road) from US 14 (Northwest Highway) to Quentin Road in McHenry and Lake Counties. Additional lanes for 8.1 miles, bridge replacement, engineering for contract plans, land acquisition and lighting are programmed during FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $77.3 million. Of this total, engineering for contract plans is programmed in FY 2001 at a cost of $4.2 million. This project includes construction of a bypass at Lake Zurich.

• Airport Road from US 67 in Milan to east of Interstate 280 in Milan. Construction of additional lanes, widening and resurfacing and reconstruction of the Interstate 280 interchange are programmed in FY 2001 at a cost of $15.4 million.

• West Rock River Bridge (Milan Beltway Extension from Airport Road to 52nd Avenue Extension in Moline/Rock Island). Construction of the new Rock River bridge and extension of the Milan Beltway are programmed for FY 2001-2005 at a cost of $21.7 million. Of this total, grading and work on bridge abutments will begin in FY 2001 at a cost of $3.1 million.

• Blackhawk Road (52nd Avenue Extension in Moline/Rock Island). The extension of 52nd Avenue to provide a connection to the new bridge is programmed during FY 2002-2005 at a cost of $10.1 million.

• Airport Road from east of Interstate 280 to east of the Milan Beltway. Additional lanes and a new interchange at the Milan Beltway to provide a connection to the new bridge are programmed during FY 2002-2005 at a cost of $7.7 million.

• East ST. Louis, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri Central Business District Bridge. Phase I engineering for the location, design and environmental studies for a new bridge connecting East St. Louis and the central business district in St. Louis, Missouri, is in progress with completion anticipated during 2000. The engineering was initiated in FY 1992 with Illinois as the lead state in developing the studies. The ISTEA included $2.3 million in federal demonstration funds for this project.

Land acquisition and Phase II engineering for contract plans are under way and continuation of this work is programmed in FY 2001 at a cost of $1.5 million. TEA-21 provided $542,000 in High Priority Project funds for this Phase II engineering. Continuation of Phase II engineering, land acquisition and other pre-construction work are programmed during FY 2002-2005 at a cost of $27.3 million.