McCook, Ill. — Gov. JB Pritzker is back in Illinois after a trade mission to Canada, where he visited the southwest suburbs on Friday to announce the largest infrastructure investment in state history.
Chicago-area drivers have long struggled with congested freeways, but the Governor has announced a historic plan to ease congestion and improve quality of life for commuters.
“We will continue to make historic investments to improve every aspect of our infrastructure and every part of our state,” Pritzker said.
The governor called the ambitious “Rebuild Illinois” program one of his top priorities.
This is outlined in the state’s budget and capital plan, and would spend “$41 billion over six years” on “infrastructure repair and repair,” with a focus on improving roads, bridges, and safety across the state.
“These are real, tangible projects that will directly impact the strengthening of our economy and the quality of life for our residents,” Pritzker said.
Part of the plan focuses on I-55 at the Stevenson Expressway, a congested stretch of road that has long been a source of frustration for commuters, where the state plans to spend more than $360 million on improvements.
“We are restoring 49 bridges to good condition and making improvements that enhance safety, traffic flow and active transportation,” Illinois Transportation Secretary Omar Osman said.
The governor said there will also be investments in airports and waterways, but most people will see progress in the form of roadworks.
“I can tell you, ‘Sorry you’re stuck in traffic and you see those orange cones,’ but another way of saying it is, ‘Sorry, but I’m not sorry.’ Our rebuilt roads, bridges, airports and river ports over the next few decades will be the best in the nation.”
“Rebuild Illinois” passed in 2019 and is the largest capital program in state history.
