Governor Quinn Announces $4.2 Million for Construction Projects in Kankakee County

KANKAKEE - Governor Pat Quinn today announced capital investments of more than $4.2 million for construction projects in Kankakee County. 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.

"New infrastructure projects are creating jobs for hardworking men and women throughout Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "These investments in Kankakee County will improve local and state transportation networks, and continue Illinois' road to recovery."

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

Illinois Route 1/17 will receive milling, aggregate shoulders, sidewalk ramp updates and replacement of any disturbed detector loops from Illinois Route 114 to west of the Illinois Route 1/17 split in Grant Park for $2,369,337 by Gallagher Asphalt Corporation of Thornton, the lower of two bidders.

Illinois Route 50 will receive 3.79 miles of milling and resurfacing from north of St. George Road to north of 6th Street in Manteno for $1,879,182 by Kankakee Valley Construction Company, Inc. of Kankakee, the lower of two bidders.

"Going forward, investment in state and local transportation infrastructure projects is a key component of Illinois' push toward a healthier economy," State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) said. "I look forward to the people of Kankakee County and surrounding areas benefiting in many ways from more local transportation infrastructure investment."

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.