Governor Announces Illinois FIRST Funds for Patoka Road Improvements

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today announced $212,000 in Illinois FIRST funds has been awarded to help the village of Patoka with improvements of Dickey Pond Road.

The road improvements will be used to improve access to BP Amoco Oil and Equilon Enterprises, LLC. Both firms will invest $450,000 to expand their operations that will add 18 new jobs.

"The assistance made possible by the Illinois FIRST is critical to the village's ability to provide the transportation infrastructure that will keep and grow jobs," Governor Ryan said. "For Patoka, a town with a population of just over 650 people, the creation of 18 new jobs is a significant boost to the area's economy," said Ryan. "This is a very good example of how Illinois FIRST is serving local communities."

The project includes upgrading the pavement and improving the intersection of Dickey Pond Road with US 51 to better accommodate increased traffic from large trucks.

The Illinois FIRST funds include $167,000 the Economic Development Program targeted specifically to transportation improvements that help communities retain or attract businesses and jobs, and $45,000 from the Truck Access Route Program that provides state funds to upgrade local roads so they can accommodate 80,000-pound trucks.

The Illinois Department of Transportation administers both programs.