Gov. Pritzker announces $41 billion multi-year plan for transportation improvements

Millions of dollars awarded to to replace I-80 bridge over Mississippi River and Quad Cities-Chicago passenger rail

QUAD CITIES, Ill. /Jun. 15, 2024 /KWQC /Kate Kopatich -- Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation joined state and local officials to announce the largest multi-year program to build and repair infrastructure in state history: $41.42 billion over six years, spread across all modes of transportation and touching every Illinois county, a media release from the governor’s office stated. 

Image Source | (©Julien_Vhte | pixabay)

The new program eclipses the previous record set last year and continues the momentum of the governor’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program. The program aims to modernize our transportation system and create economic opportunity while improving safety, mobility, and quality of life throughout the state.

The IDOT’s new multi-year program is both comprehensive and multimodal, with investments in roads and bridges, aviation, transit, freight, passenger rail, waterways, as well as bicycle, and pedestrian accommodations, the media release stated.

An overview of transportation improvements for the Quad Cities includes the following.

I-80: $304.5 million to replace the bridge over the Mississippi River in Rock Island County. Illinois will lead the project, with Iowa sharing equality in the costs

Passenger rail: $225 million to re-establish service between Chicago and the Quad Cities, with a new intermediate stop in Geneseo. Other stations served will include the Q in Moline, Princeton, Mendota, Plano, Naperville, La Grange and Chicago’s Union Station

I-280: $36 million for a new bridge deck and other improvements at the Mississippi River southwest of Rock Island in Rock Island County

Illinois 84: $15.5 million for reconstruction and the addition of a middle turn lane from the Rock River to U.S. 6 and Cleveland Road from Illinois 84

I-280: $10.3 million for resurfacing from the Mississippi River to Airport Road in Milan

Illinois 5: $2.6 million to resurface John Deere Road from 70th Street in Moline to Colona Road in Carbon Cliff