Governor Quinn Announces $8.3 Million for Construction Projects in Cook and DuPage Counties

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced capital investments of more than $8.3 million for construction projects in Cook and DuPage Counties. The investments, funded by the Governor's Illinois Jobs Now! construction program, are part of Governor Quinn's agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois' economy forward.

Today's announcement follows last week's news that the Illinois unemployment rate hit a six-year low in August when it fell to 6.7 percent. This is the lowest rate since August 2008 and a continuation of an uninterrupted drop in the state jobless rate that began in late 2013. The number of people employed in Illinois remains above six million, continuing a 2014 trend that has seen more people working in this state than at any time since early 2009.

"More people are working in Illinois, and these infrastructure projects keep them working while making travel safer and easier for the public," Governor Quinn said. "Illinois is well along the road to recovery, and work on these roads in Cook and DuPage Counties will help maintain infrastructure that keeps our economy moving."

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

Cook County

LED installation will be done at various locations in Central Cook County for $749,999 by John Burns Construction Company of Orland Park, the lowest of five bidders.

LED installation and signal modernization will be done at various locations in Central Cook County for $1,155,555 by John Burns Construction Company of Orland Park, the lowest of five bidders.

LED installation and signal modernization will be done at various locations in North Cook County for $969,999 by John Burns Construction Company of Orland Park, the lowest of five bidders.

Intersection improvement and traffic signal modernization will be done at Barrington Road and Bode Road in Hoffman Estates and Barrington for $552,920 by Alliance Contractors, Inc. of Woodstock, the lower of two bidders.

DuPage and Cook Counties

Illinois Route 83 will receive 4.32 miles of resurfacing from the DuPage County Line to U.S. 45 in Lemont and Palos Township for $2,331,977 by K-Five Construction Corporation of Lemont, the lower of two bidders.

Intermittent resurfacing on various state maintained expressway routes will be done for $2,639,450 by R. W. Dunteman Company of Addison.

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 construction program in Illinois history, and is one of the largest construction programs in the nation.