MULKEYTOWN – April 25, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn announced a resurfacing project for Illinois 148 in Franklin County set to go to construction later this spring under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). So far, Illinois has received funding approval from the Obama Administration for 249 projects worth $606 million, more than any other state, according to federal transportation officials.

 

“This resurfacing project in Franklin County is just one example of how Illinois is leading the way in the national Recovery effort,” said Governor Quinn. “We are excited about an active construction season this spring that will bring jobs and better roads to our state.”

 

The Franklin County project is being contracted under Zeigler and Christopher Construction for $1.4 million.  In total, Illinois expects to receive $963 million in federal Recovery funding for highways and bridges. Nationally, $6.5 billion of the $27.5 billion has been approved to date in the federal Recovery package for highways and bridges.

 

Earlier this month Governor Quinn signed the $3 billion Jump Start Capital Plan which will help Illinois make critical improvements to roads, bridges and mass transit this construction season. Together, the Jump Start Capital Plan and the first round of Recovery transportation funding will create and retain approximately 60,000 jobs.

 

“We are working to improve the transportation system across the state and this is just the start,” said Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig.  “We are ready and committed to building better roads and putting people back to work.” 

 

For a complete list of projects submitted by the Illinois Department of Transportation to the U.S. Department of Transportation, visit www.dot.il.gov/stimulus/index.html.