Governor Quinn Breaks Ground on $26 Million Project to Redevelop Brownfield Site in East Peoria

EAST PEORIA – September 14, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today joined Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Gary Hannig and local officials to kick off the Technology Boulevard and Edmund Street extension project in East Peoria. The $26 million project, which will provide access to the former Caterpillar Inc. property in the heart of the metropolitan area, will create 300 construction jobs. Future redevelopment at the 65-acre Brownfield site is expected to create an additional 2,300 jobs. The project is funded by Governor Quinn’s Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program.

“Improving our state’s aging infrastructure is critical to economic recovery, creating jobs and developing long-term investment in Illinois,” said Governor Quinn. “We are in the midst of the largest construction season in the state’s history, putting thousands of people to work by improving thousands of miles of Illinois roads and hundreds of bridges.”

In addition to building new roadways and a bridge at the property along the Illinois River across from downtown Peoria, the project will also include new storm sewers, water mains, sanitary sewers, signalized intersections and street lighting as part of an effort to build a new internal street system at the site. R.A. Cullinan and Son, Inc. was awarded the $24 million project contract. In addition, $2 million was utilized to complete design and construction engineering.

“We are extremely proud to see this project moving forward,” said Secretary Hannig. “This project will stimulate the local economy and provide jobs for years to come.”

The project, when completed in the fall of 2012, will provide access to the Morton Community Bank Fondulac Banking Center, a new 190-room Holiday Inn with an upscale restaurant, and a civic plaza with a new library, atrium and a future city hall. The site also will feature green space, residential and retail outlets and the CAT Heritage Museum.

IDOT is currently leading Illinois’ largest road construction program in state history through Governor Quinn’s Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program. From 2009 through the end of this year, Illinois will have invested approximately $8 billion to repair or rebuild 4,800 miles of roads and 566 bridges. These projects are creating an estimated 155,000 short-term and permanent jobs.