Governor Quinn Announces $18.2 Million Investments for Eastern Illinois Construction Projects

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Pat Quinn today announced investments totaling more than $18.2 million for construction projects in eastern Illinois. The road, college, correctional center and airport projects in Champaign, Coles, Crawford, Douglas, Effingham, Fayette and Vermilion Counties are all part of his $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program, and address critical infrastructure needs in eastern Illinois.

"I led passage of the Illinois Jobs Now! program immediately after taking office in 2009 because the state had gone nearly ten years without major capital construction legislation to repair and maintain the state's infrastructure," Governor Quinn said. "With Illinois Jobs Now!, we've been able to put hundreds of thousands of people to work on badly needed construction jobs while making eastern Illinois a better place to live and work."

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

Champaign County

Various routes in Champaign and Urbana will receive changeable message signs and surveillance cameras for $2,368,761 by Champaign Signal and Lighting Co. of Urbana, the lower of two bidders.

Life safety upgrades will be made in Foellinger Auditorium, the Armory and Huff Hall at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in a project managed by the Illinois Capital Development Board. The work includes upgrading the fire alarm systems, installing audible and visual notifications, renovating space for emergency exiting, constructing fire and smoke barriers, and installing emergency lighting and exit signs. The sprinkler contract went to Automatic Fire Sprinkler, LLC of Normal, the lowest of three bids at $517,380. The electrical contract was awarded to Glesco Electric, Inc. of Danville for $342,900. The general construction contract was awarded to Path Construction Company, Inc. of Arlington Heights, the lower of two bids at $872,000.

Taxiway C at Willard Airport in Savoy will be realigned and widened for $4,485,913 by Open Road Paving Company, LLC of Urbana. The Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics will manage the projects, which include federal, state and local funding.

Coles County

The existing concrete channel beam superstructure on the bridge carrying Lerna Road over Kickapoo Creek will be replaced with a new concrete deck and guardrail using stage construction for $732,590 by A. J. Walker Construction Company of Mattoon, the lowest of four bidders.

The Coles County Memorial Airport will see two projects. Runway 11/29 will be rehabilitated for $4,711,926 by Howell Paving, Inc. of Mattoon. The rehabilitation of a frontage road, T-hangar access road, and entrance road at the airport will also be done by Howell Paving for $214,198. The Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics will manage the projects, which include federal, state and local funding.

Crawford County

Pavement will be constructed around the T-hangar at Robinson Municipal Airport for $276,217 by Ambraw Asphalt Materials, Inc. of Lawrenceville. The Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics will manage the projects, which include federal, state and local funding.

Douglas, Champaign and Vermilion Counties

Pavement patching will be done on I-57 in Douglas and Champaign Counties, I-72 in Champaign County, and I-74 in Champaign and Vermilion Counties for $381,836 by Kinney Contractors, Inc. of Raymond, the lowest of four bidders.

Effingham County

U.S. 45 will receive 0.2 miles of HMA resurfacing including the construction of a PCC right turn lane, storm sewer, curb and gutter, sidewalk, raised median, traffic signal modernization, earth excavation, seeding and pavement marking in Effingham for $842,816 by Kieffer Bros. Construction Co., Inc. of Mt. Carmel, the lower of two bidders.

Dynamic message signs and closed circuit television cameras will be installed along various routes and rest areas for $2,399,588 by Bodine Electric of Decatur, the lower of two bidders.

Fayette County

Roofing systems on several structures at the Vandalia Correctional Center will be repaired and replaced in a project managed by the Illinois Capital Development Board. Joiner Sheet Metal & Roofing, Inc. of Greenville was the lowest of three bidders at $231,852.

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.