Illinois DOT releases 6-year, $11.2 billion infrastructure improvement plan

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has released a transportation infrastructure plan that would provide $11.2 billion in fixes over six years. The FY2017-22 Proposed Highway Improvement Program would be an increase of $2.8 billion over a previous plan.

“Our latest multiyear highway program is more promising than a year ago, but we still have our work cut out for us,” says IDOT Secretary Randy Blankenhorn. “Revenue projections for transportation do not meet the needs of the state and the condition of our system will continue to deteriorate. We look forward to working with all stakeholders on a long-term, sustainable solution that grows our economy and keeps Illinois the transportation hub of North America far into the future.”

The plan includes measures to improve 2,523 miles of roads and 501 bridges with $2 billion set aside for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The FAST Act helped boost the plan by roughly $134 million per year compared to previous levels, officials say. An additional $65 million per year was made available due to a new IDOT bargaining agreement.

The plan includes:

• Improvements for 38 bridges on the Kennedy Expressway, I-90 and I-94 in Chicago, valued at $68 million
• A project for widening I-55 and building the Lorenzo Road interchange in Will County would receive $114.7 million in funding
• $478 million for replacing the I-74/US 6 bridge in the Quad Cities
• $32.5 million for replacing the Illinois 178 bridge south of Utica
• $74.3 million for reconstructing the I-57/I-74 interchange in Champaign County
• $64.2 million for repairs to the Poplar Street collector in Metro East