Governor Quinn Announces $33.7 Million for Road Projects in Madison, St. Clair and Clinton Counties

SAUGET - Governor Pat Quinn today announced capital investments of more than $33.7 million for road projects in Madison, St. Clair and Clinton Counties, part of his Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program. The projects are part of Governor Quinn's agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois' economy forward.

"Our investments will make it safer and more convenient for motorists traveling through the Metro East area," Governor Quinn said. "The projects will also employ a number of construction workers, which will drive the local economy forward."

The projects will be managed by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Madison County

Interstate 255 will receive major repair and upgrades from north of Horseshoe Lake Road to the I-270 interchange, a distance of 4.37 miles, including resurfacing, ramp repair and minor bridge repair. The Kilian Corporation of Mascoutah was the successful bidder with a quote of $17,392,756.

A bridge in Collinsville will be replaced over Canteen Creek about one mile south of Illinois Route 159 for $921,338 by Thiems Construction Company, Inc. of Roxana, the lowest of seven bidders.

An Intelligent Transportation System, consisting of message boards and sensors, will be installed along Interstate 55/70 from mile post 15.9 to mile post 22 for $578,716 by Electrico, Inc. of Millstadt, the lowest of four bidders.

Missouri Avenue in Granite City will be patched and resurfaced from 25th Street to just south of Illinois Route 3 by Christ Bros. Asphalt, Inc. of Lebanon, the lowest of three bidders at $613,157.

Bridge approach bump repairs will be performed on Illinois Route 255 from the Commerce Center Drive interchange to just north of the Cahokia Diversion Canal and New Poag Road. Keller Construction, Inc. of Glen Carbon was the lowest of five bidders at $296,306.

The crossover lane at the intersection of South University Drive and Stadium Drive on the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus will be reconstructed for $132,141 by Hank's Excavating & Landscaping, Inc. of Belleville, the lowest of 11 bidders.

St. Clair County

Resurfacing will be done on 8.8 miles of the westbound lanes of Illinois Route 15 from east of Interstate 255 to east of Illinois Route 159, for $4,896,247. The eastbound lanes of the same highway will be resurfaced for $4,879,804. The lower of two bidders for both projects was The Kilian Corporation of Mascoutah.

Queeny Avenue in Sauget will be extended from Illinois Route 3 to Loop Hog Hollow Road. Portions of Monsanto Avenue and Pitzman Avenue will also be resurfaced as part of the $2,690,000 project, which will be done by Christ Bros. Asphalt, Inc. of Lebanon, the lower of two bidders.

Various locations in St. Clair County will be patched, milled and resurfaced for $516,649 by Christ Bros. Asphalt, Inc. of Lebanon, the lower of two bidders.

Water Street from Illinois Route 3 in Cahokia to Main Street in Dupo will be sealed and wedge shoulders added for $274,825 by Microsurfacing Contractors, LLC, a Division of Byrne & Jones Enterprise, Inc. of St. Louis, the lower of two bidders.

Clinton County

A 2.9 mile stretch of U.S. Route 50 from Huey Road to Creek Road will be rehabilitated for $864,092 by Howell Paving, Inc. of Mattoon, the lowest of three bidders. The work will include guard rail replacement, ditch grading, rip rap placement, safety shoulders and rumble strips.

"By improving the safety and efficiency of our roadways, these projects help promote commerce and important construction jobs to the area" State Senator Bill Haine (D-Alton) said.

"This kind of investment in our communities' roads and bridges is a crucial part of revitalizing the region," State Senator James Clayborne (D-Belleville) said.

"These investment projects will bring good, well-paying jobs to the men and women who will update the infrastructure of our community," State Representative Dan Beiser (D-Alton) said. "Furthermore, the improvement to our roadways will mean a safer, more accessible Metro-East region."

"These much-needed projects in our area will stimulate job growth and keep people at work," State Representative Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) said. "Equally critical is the state's continued investment in projects that lay the groundwork for a strong infrastructure and pave the way for a prosperous economy right here in the Metro East."

"These projects will generate jobs, improve road safety and bring taxpayer dollars back to our area," State Representative Eddie Lee Jackson, Sr. (D-East St. Louis) said. "St. Clair County has a lot to offer, and I hope that these projects attract more visitors and new business to the Metro-East area."

The projects are part of Governor Quinn's $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! program, which will support more than 439,000 jobs over six years. Illinois Jobs Now! is the largest capital construction program in Illinois history, and is one of the largest capital construction programs in the nation.