By Greg Bishop/Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Bruce Rauner wants to spend more than $11 billion over the next six years on infrastructure.
Rauner made the announcement in Peoria Tuesday by also announcing a new $220 million McClugage Bridge in the Peoria area.
Throughout the state, Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn said the program will improve almost 2,000 miles of roads and over 500 bridges.
“But it’s really not about the numbers,” Blankenhorn said. “It’s about how we impact communities. It’s about we grow the economy. It’s about how we put people to work everyday here in central Illinois and across the state.”
Standing alongside Rauner in Peoria, State Sen. Chuck Weaver, R-Peoria, said the plan is needed, as is the prioritization of where the money is spent.
“It’s not just about how things are falling apart ’til you fix them, but also where you can get the greatest economic return in what you’re doing for infrastructure,” Weaver said.
Senate Infrastructure Committee member Pat McGuire, D-Crest Hill, said he welcomed the idea of a multi-year plan and looks forward to more details on how it will be funded.
“I’m glad to hear that the governor announced an infrastructure plan, a capital bill,” McGuire said. “It’s an infrastructure plan that I welcome, but … how do we pay for it.”
The governor’s office said the plan includes $2.2 billion of state and federal funding in the upcoming fiscal year, though with a Thursday deadline, the budget for the state has yet to be fully released.
Each additional year would require separate infrastructure appropriations.
McGuire is pushing for more lanes to be added to Interstate 80, something he said would cost in excess of $1 billion.
Rauner’s plan highlights include $148.4 million for bridge work and other improvements on Interstate 80 through Will County
Rauner said things have been changing at IDOT, including reversing the state’s old strategy that Rauner claims was akin to buying a new car and then not changing the oil “and just wait until the car just stops running and then buy a new car.”
“The reality is we have got to invest in our assets on a smart basis, on an ongoing basis, to make sure they’re well maintained,” Rauner said.
Rauner said such a philosophy for infrastructure will save money in the long run.
McGuire agreed.
“Spasmodic capital bills are less than desirable,” McGuire said. “We need a capital bill every year. We need a capital bill for maintenance of the roads and the bridges, similar structures that we have, and we need a capital bill to expand.”
Other highlights the governor’s office outline included:
$26 million toward the reconstruction of U.S. 20/Rockford Bypass in Rockford
$36 million to replace and repair the Third Street exit and ramps to Martin Luther King Drive in East St. Louis
$12.7 million for additional lanes on 4.5 miles of Interstate 57 from Johnson City to West Frankfort
