PEORIA — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker was joined by Peoria Mayor Rita Ali and Peoria County Board Chairman Jimmy Dillon on Tuesday to celebrate tens of millions of dollars in state money for road projects here.
The trio, and other state and city officials, gathered in the parking lot of Peoria Notre Dame High School to specifically highlight a $7.6 million project that will see the intersection of Northmoor Road and University Street reconstructed in addition to a $5.8 million reconstruction of Sheridan Road from Northmoor to Giles Lane. Peoria County will also receive a $10 million state grant to reconstruct Sheridan Road from Glen Avenue to Northmoor, a $12.1 million project.
Officials highlighted other projects as well: $6.9 million state grant for Wisconsin Avenue, an $87.2 million investment for Route 29 from Gardner Lane to north of Lorentz Avenue, and $42.7 million for Howett Street and Lincoln Avenue.
“These projects are not just about pavement and concrete, they’re about people,” Ali said. “Every road we’ve rebuilt means safer travel for Illinois families, better access to jobs and stronger connections between neighborhoods and businesses. Infrastructure like this lays the foundation for economic growth and a higher quality of life.”
Pritzker said projects like these across Illinois make the state more “attractive to businesses and families.”
“It’s especially great to be here when we’re celebrating the progress of the state of Illinois because of Peoria and rebuilding the infrastructure of this great area and creating real sustainable economic growth for all of us,” Pritzker said. “Across the state our Rebuild Illinois program is getting shovels in the ground and putting Illinoisans to work on projects that are truly vital for the community interest and that help grow the entire state.”
Dillon said it is easy to delay projects but thanked Pritzker for “promises made and promises kept” on infrastructure projects.
“People see orange barrels as a hinderance and as the governor said earlier today, thank you governor for viewing that as progress, which it is,” Dillon said. “I know Peoria County, the City of Peoria, all of our cities in this great county and especially the men and women of labor greatly appreciate you having the foresight to invest in Illinois. So from the bottom of my heart, as the chairman, thank you for believing in Illinois and thank you for believing in Peoria and what we can be.”
Tony O’Brian, the business manager for Peoria’s local 649 International Union of Operating Engineers, called the Sheridan Road project a “big win” for Peoria and the region.
“For years stretch of this road has been outdated and unsafe, causing congestion, limiting access and putting pedestrians at risk,” O’Brian said. “With this $10 million investment from IDOT and of course our favorite governor, this gives the corridor the attention it deserves. Sheridan Road connects people to critical destinations like Proctor Hospital and Peoria Notre Dame.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Local officials celebrate millions of dollars for road projects in the Peoria area
Reporting by JJ Bullock, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
