Governor Quinn Announces $19.5 Million for Construction Projects in Southern Illinois

CARMI - Governor Pat Quinn today announced capital investments of more than $19.5 million for construction projects in Clay, Franklin, Johnson, Lawrence, Marion, Massac, Pulaski, Wabash, Washington, White and Williamson 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 southern Illinois and will upgrade the infrastructure at a key state park," 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 except where noted.

Clay County: U.S. Route 45/50 in Flora will be patched, resurfaced and other work performed for $570,407 by Howell Paving, Inc. of Mattoon.

Franklin County: A double box culvert will be replaced on Illinois Route 149 east of West Frankfort for $211,747 by E.T. Simonds Construction Company of Carbondale, the lowest of five bidders.

Johnson County: Windows and security louvers at the Vienna Correctional Center will be replaced for $2,149,000 by Pauly Jail Building Company Inc. of Noblesville, Indiana, the lowest of six bidders. The project will be managed by the Illinois Capital Development Board.

The sanitary sewage treatment system and an associated station will be upgraded at Ferne Clyffe State Park for $532,230 by Mott Excavating of Vienna. The project will be managed by the Illinois Capital Development Board.

Lawrence County: A bridge will be replaced over a creek about 1.5 miles west of Bridgeport for $199,115 by Allendale Gravel Co., Inc. of Allendale, the lower of two bidders.

Pedestrian push buttons and a wireless vehicle detection system will be installed at the 11th and State and 12th and State intersections in Lawrenceville for $43,007 by Bodine Electric of Decatur, the lower of two bidders.

Marion County: A major road project in Centralia will include street overlay, sidewalk, curb and gutter, storm sewers, landscaping and other work on portions of Calumet Street, Airport Road and Lincoln Boulevard. Hank's Excavating & Landscaping, Inc. of Belleville was the lowest of five bidders at $3,704,053.

Massac County: Bridge joints on U.S. Route 45 where it crosses over Interstate 24 east of Metropolis will be repaired for $396,707 by E.T. Simonds Construction Company of Carbondale, the lowest of four bidders.

Pulaski County: A box culvert on Old U.S. Route 51 over a creek will be replaced for $71,716 by Perry County Construction Company of Herrin, the lowest of five bidders.

Wabash County: A bridge will be replaced carrying Illinois Route 1 over Greathouse Creek for $1,367,337 by Allendale Gravel Co., Inc. of Allendale, the lower of two bidders.

Washington County: Illinois Route 127 in Nashville from north of Mockingbird Lane to Holzhauer Drive will be patched and resurfaced, and traffic signals and guardrails installed, for $1,617,175 by Howell Paving, Inc. of Mattoon, the lowest of four bidders.

The bridge approaches carrying Illinois Routes 3/14 over the Illinois Central Railroad about 2.9 miles south of Illinois Route 4 will be resurfaced for $75,581 by Christ Bros. Asphalt, Inc. of Lebanon, the lowest of three bidders.

White County: Six bridges along Interstate 64 in White County will be rehabilitated for $6,493,721 by E.T. Simonds Construction Company of Carbondale, the lower of two bidders. The work involves milling, resurfacing, patching, guardrail replacement, joint repair and the installation of a waterproof membrane system.

A bridge will be replaced carrying Illinois Route 1/14 over Crooked Creek for $1,338,868 by E.T. Simonds Construction Company of Carbondale.

Williamson County: Illinois Route 37 just north of the Johnson County line will be leveled and straightened for $1,017,596 by Sierra Bravo Contractors, LLC of Sesser, the lowest of four bidders.

"These construction projects create good jobs," State Senator Gary Forby (D-Benton) said. "I thank Governor Quinn for his commitment to public works and for his partnership with me to invest in Southern Illinois."

"Maintaining and upgrading the state's roadways and transportation infrastructure is particularly important in Illinois, which benefits from a lot of commercial traffic," State Senator Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) said. "Not only that, but employers place a premium on states that prioritize a well-maintained, extensive network of roads and bridges."

"All of these counties have been through rough economic times," State Representative Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg) said. "These new capital construction projects will not only help to put Southern Illinoisans back to work, but will also be an investment in our roads and bridges—infrastructure improvements that are needed to help turn around an economic situation that many in Southern Illinois face every day."

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.