More than $430 million coming to Rockford area to fix roads

Rockford Register Star
·3 min read

Illinois is investing more than $40 billion over the next six years to help fix and repair infrastructure across the state, including in the Rockford area.

The new multi-year program is the first time in more than a decade that the Illinois Department of Transportation is releasing a comprehensive approach to invest in all modes of transportation: roads and bridges, aviation, transit, freight and passenger rail, waterways, as well as bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.

Here's what you need to know about the plan:

What's the exact dollar amount being spent?

The state will be spending $40.99 billion on infrastructure projects over the next six years.

Where did the money come from?

The funds are part of the state's Rebuild Illinois capital program.

What's the spending breakdown?

  • $27.03 billion will be spent on roads and bridges, including $4.6 billion identified for the current fiscal year.

  • $9.85 billion will be spent on transit.

  • $2.67 billion will be spent on freight and passenger rail projects.

  • $1.25 billion will be spent on aviation projects.

  • $190 million will be spent for ports and waterways.

More: Now boarding: Everything you need to know about Rockford's new Metra line to Chicago

How much of that money will be spent in the Rockford area?

IDOT's District 2 includes Winnebago, Boone, Stephenson, Ogle, Lee, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Whiteside, Henry and Rock Island counties. A total of $1.7 billion will spent in District 2 over the next six years, according to state officials.

Which Rockford area projects will receive funds?

Winnebago County:

  • I-39/U.S. 20/Harrison Avenue: $286 million for bridge replacement, reconstruction and additional lanes on 6.4 miles from Blackhawk Road to I-90.

  • I-39 to Kishwaukee River and Bell School Road to I-39.

  • Illinois 2: $92.1 million for reconstruction of 10.6 miles, bridge replacement and culvert replacement from Illinois 72 in Byron to Beltline Road south of Rockford.

  • Illinois 2: $30.3 million to replace the Illinois 2 bridge over the Rock River in Rockton.

  • Illinois 251: $13.8 million to replace bridges over the Union Pacific Railroad and Rockton Road in Roscoe.

Stephenson County:

  • U.S. 20/Illinois 73: $11 million for reconstruction of 1.9 miles, intersection reconstruction, turning lanes, traffic signal installation, new culvert, culvert replacement, utility adjustments and construction engineering from 0.4 mile west of Illinois 73 to 1 mile east (Rees Road) and from 0.4 mile north to 0.2 mile south of U.S. 20.

Jo Daviess County:

  • U.S. 20: $28.9 million for reconstruction of 4.1 miles, bridge replacement, horizontal and vertical realignment, culvert replacement, culvert removal, new culvert, truck-climbing lane, land acquisition and construction engineering from 0.2 mile west of Logemann Road to Rush Street in Stockton.

  • U.S. 20: $15.2 million for reconstruction of 2.7 miles, engineering for contract plans, land acquisition, utility adjustments and construction engineering from 0.1 mile east of Illinois 78N to 0.2 mile west of the Stephenson County line.

How much will be improved from the construction projects?

A total of 1,606 miles of highway, 836 bridges and 10.1 million miles of daily travel will be improved, according to the state.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: $433 million in road improvements coming to the Rockford area