Governor Quinn Announces $48.1 Million for U.S. Route 14 Improvement Project in McHenry County

WOODSTOCK - Governor Pat Quinn today announced capital investments of more than $48.1 million for a major U.S. Route 14 improvement project in McHenry 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.

"More people are working in Illinois, and this infrastructure project will keep them working while making travel safer and easier for the public," Governor Quinn said. "Illinois is well along the road to recovery, and work on this key highway in McHenry County will help maintain the infrastructure that keeps our economy moving."

Two separate projects managed by the Illinois Department of Transportation will improve U.S. Route 14 between Woodstock and Crystal Lake. Reconstruction and widening will be done on U.S. 14 from West Lake Shore Drive to Lucas Road for $25,281,880 by Plote Construction, Inc. of Hoffman Estates, the lowest of seven bidders. A second project will involve 2.3 miles of roadway reconstruction, including adding lanes, widening and resurfacing and drainage improvements from Lucas Road to Crystal Lake Road in Crystal Lake. Plote Construction, Inc. was also the lowest of five bidders for this portion of the work with a bid of $22,880,978.

"High quality, modern infrastructure is a basic requirement for economic growth and job creation, both of which are sorely needed in Illinois right now," State Representative Jack Franks (D-Marengo) said. "Expanding and improving US-14 will reduce the traffic burden on McHenry County residents, improve the productivity of local businesses, encourage employers to locate here and put people to work now."

"These are vital transportation projects that will improve safety and travel times on one of McHenry County's busiest roads," State Representative Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) said. "Once completed, the reconstructions, widenings and additional lanes will enhance our transportation infrastructure in a way that will hopefully attract new businesses and jobs to that area."

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.