Governor Quinn Announces Major Investment to Continue Work on Macomb Bypass

MACOMB - Governor Pat Quinn today announced a $35 million investment to continue work on the Macomb Bypass, a new highway that will take motorists around the west side of Macomb. The additional funds will construct a new six-mile, two-lane highway of the planned four-lane by-pass to link U.S. Route 67 and Illinois Route 336/110. Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to create jobs, improve infrastructure and drive Illinois' economy forward.

"The Macomb bypass is the final link in the project to improve transportation efficiency and safety in this key section of western Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "The project will also help create hundreds of jobs that will help drive the regional economy forward."

"The Macomb Bypass is a prime example of how federal funding for transportation projects can leverage increased investments in regional infrastructure priorities and create good-paying, local jobs," U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) said. "With the support of my colleagues in Illinois' Congressional Delegation, I have worked to bring $39 million in federal funding for road upgrades in this critical corridor, including $27 million for the Macomb Bypass. As this project nears completion, it will help connect western Illinois to the Midwest's larger transportation network and continue to spur economic development throughout the region."

The new work includes construction of the northbound lanes of the highway, which will function as a two-lane highway until the southbound lanes can be funded and built in the future. Five additional bridges will be built as part of the project to carry Route 336 over County Highway 14, the Lamoine River and three minor streams, and bridges will be constructed that will carry Township Road 1100, Spring Lake Road and Tower Road over Route 336. The new section of highway will be built on the corridor now being created by an ongoing grading project. The construction of overpasses at Adams and Jackson Streets has been completed.

Bids will be let in spring 2015 on the new $35 million road construction work. Including today's announcement, Governor Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program has funded $75.4 million for construction of the Macomb Bypass.

"I'm very pleased to see another piece of the Chicago to Kansas City expressway investment become reality," State Senator John M. Sullivan (D-Rushville) said. "When completed, this 50-year project will connect western Illinois to the rest of the country and this $35 million investment will improve our transportation infrastructure, create construction jobs and invigorate our area's economy."

"We are grateful to Governor Quinn and Senator Sullivan for the investment in this next phase of the 336 North West bypass," Macomb Mayor Michael Inman said. "We look forward to their continued support on this important economic development project in the future."

The Macomb Bypass project began in 1997. It will provide a six-mile highway around Macomb connecting Illinois Route 336/110 from the west to U.S. Route 67 to the north. The new four-lane Illinois Route 336/110 from Carthage to Macomb was opened to traffic in October 2008.

The Macomb Bypass 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.