Gov. Pritzker Includes $1B For I-80 Upgrades In Proposed Budget

JOLIET — The city of Joliet issued a press release announcing that Governor J.B. Pritzker's proposed budget calls for the inclusion of $1.01 billion in I-80 reconstruction funds as part ot the governor's proposed $41.5 billion capital improvement plan. Joliet officials were thrilled by the news.

“Ever since the disclosure in February of the structural weaknesses of the I-80 Des Plaines River bridge in Joliet and the general deterioration of the interstate, Interim City Manager Marty Shanahan and I have made it a priority to press State and Federal officials to make all of the highways and bridges in Joliet both safe and efficient,” Mayor Bob O’Dekirk said in a press release.

“We have essentially been harassing the Governor and our legislators to make sure Joliet gets its fair share of infrastructure tax dollars—and it worked. We are sincerely grateful to Governor Pritzker for recognizing the corridor’s urgent needs and earmarking funds.”

“While the I-80 reconstruction was urgent due to IDOT’s own classification of sections of the roadway and bridge as ‘critical’ and ‘intolerable,’ Joliet has many needs for adequate state funding to help maintain our other state roadways, schools and state facilities,” said Shanahan. “Our administration will continue to work diligently with State and Federal transportation executives to make sure the funding, contracts and work are executed in an expedited manner.”