Politics & Government
Stopgap State Budget Keeps Deerfield Road Construction From Shutting Down
The $18M project can now go ahead as planned thanks to a temporary state budget that covers the 1st half of the new fiscal year.
An 11th-hour move Thursday by Illinois lawmakers to approve a stopgap budget plan will keep the Deerfield Road Reconstruction Project and other federally funded road work around the state from shutting down.
The Illinois General Assembly passed a temporary state budget plan that covers the first six months of the new fiscal year, which starts Friday. Part of that plan includes continuing to fund more than $2 billion in ongoing construction projects, according to a statement from the office of Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield), who co-sponsored the measure.
Highland Park and Deerfield officials were told by the Illinois Depart of Transportation last week that work on the Deerfield Road Reconstruction Project—which is being partially paid for with federal funds—would need to be halted indefinitely Thursday, June 30. Without a state budget, IDOT would not be authorized to allocate the federal money and pay contractors.
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“Today’s vote guarantees a number of vital construction projects across the state continue as planned,” Morrison said in a statement. “Locally, the reconstruction of Deerfield Road between Highland Park and Deerfield was facing the potential of ceasing construction as early as [Friday], which would have caused increased traffic delays and the potential for safety concerns for motorists.”
RELATED: Deerfield Road Construction Shut Down Over State Budget Impasse
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The Deerfield Road Reconstruction Project, which began in February, involves resurfacing and rebuilding a 2.39-mile stretch of the road from Deerfield's Metra viaduct to Route 41 in Highland Park. About $16 million of the $18 million project is being paid for through a combination of federal, state and county programs.
The temporary state budget measures were passed by the Senate and the House on Thursday and now require Gov. Bruce Rauner's approval.
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