Governor Quinn Announces Road Improvement Project in Cicero

CICERO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced a state investment of $2.9 million from his Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program for a road improvement project in Cicero. The funds will be used to repave a large section of Austin Boulevard, a key route through the city. Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to improve Illinois' transportation infrastructure, create jobs and drive the economy forward.

"Austin Boulevard is a main source of transportation and business for Cicero, and improving it will help safety and travel time for the area," Governor Quinn said. "Investing in our transportation infrastructure not only boosts efficiency and safety but also creates jobs and helps drive our economy forward."

Austin Boulevard will be repaved from Roosevelt Road to 35th Street in three segments: Roosevelt Road to Cermak Road, Cermak to 29th Street and Ogden Avenue to 35th Street. The resurfacing also includes isolated segments of curb and gutter removal and replacement, drainage structure repair, pavement marking and restoration of disturbed parkway areas.

The work will be done within the existing highway right-of-way. Upgraded pedestrian access to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act will also be incorporated into the proposed improvement.

Austin Boulevard is a major thoroughfare used by up to 16,500 vehicles per day. The roadway was reconstructed in the mid-eighties and early nineties. Bids for the repaving project will be let in the spring, with completion estimated in the fall of 2015.

The Austin Boulevard project is 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.