SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Governor Pritzker announced Wednesday his administration is launching a nearly $21 billion infrastructure plan aimed at renovating Illinois roads and bridges over the next six years, and creating jobs.
Acting IDOT Secretary Omer Osman joined Governor Pritzker in Springfield to say not only is his agency ready for the next phase of the Rebuild Illinois construction, it was undeterred even through the pandemic.
"Because of the Governor's vision and the support of the General Assembly, I am proud to say we kept our construction season on schedule and did not cut a project. Not all states can say that," Osman said.
Indeed, said Governor Pritzker, a lot got done.
"IDOT, local governments, and labor leaders across Illinois have worked together and have already improved over 2,700 miles of state and local roadways in under two years," he said.
Pritzker said the latest multi-year plan continues the state’s infrastructure investment over the past two years, with over 2,700 miles of state and local roadways and 290 bridges already improved through Rebuild Illinois.
"We are announcing the new, multi-year plan for the next six years that will reconstruct over 2,700 more miles of roads and nearly 8,000,000 square-feet of bridges," he said.
“Rebuild Illinois is about investing for the future – supporting this generation and the next, making sure we have good jobs and the roads to get there, and building a state where opportunity is just around the corner for everyone, no matter where you’re standing.”
The work is being funded through the state’s bipartisan Rebuild Illinois program, and will reinforce Illinois’ leadership as a transportation hub and create thousands of jobs as the state seeks to spur economic growth following the COVID-19 pandemic. St. Charles State Senator Donald DeWitte, ranking Republican on the Senate Transportation Committee, said he’s glad to see roads and bridges remain a priority.
“Illinois is the transportation hub of the Midwest, and I am pleased to see that maintaining and improving our roads and bridges remains a priority through this new multi-year plan,” DeWitte said in a statement. “Especially as we begin to move out of the pandemic, a reliable transportation grid is essential to restoring economic vitality to businesses that have endured immense difficulty over the last 14 months.”
Related
