Mike Hinrichsen, President 474 Eastern Bypass Regional Coalition – Peoria, IL

The Eastern Bypass has been the top transportation priority for the Greater Peoria region for decades. The completion of the proposed Eastern Bypass will be vital to our area’s future in terms of job creation, economic development, and efficient transportation connections for our economy. It will help us to serve emerging markets and better compete in a global marketplace and has been the highest transportation priority of Caterpillar Inc. for many years.

Velocity is essential to business today. The speed with which we can move goods is a critical factor in our overall success.

While we recognize the financial challenges, there is a need for better surface transportation connections between manufacturing and distribution facilities spread across the region. Benefits include: facilitating the movement of people and freight to, from and around the region and strengthening the region’s economic development and growth opportunities and, the support of safe and efficient travel. This project remains supported by dozens of municipalities, governmental organizations, chambers of commerce, elected officials and individuals in the Greater Peoria area.

We strongly encourage the public to attend the upcoming Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) District 4 Open House. IDOT is seeking public input for the development of its upcoming Multi-modal Transportation Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2014-2019 on Thursday, September 27th from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the District 4 Headquarters, located at 401 Main St. in Peoria, IL (Becker Building, sixth floor). We are requesting a portion of the $10 million needed for the next Phase (Alignment) of the Eastern Bypass study.

Significant economic development is always led by infrastructure investment and the Eastern Bypass is no different for our overall economic development for the region.

This public participation and input is vital to keep the project moving. The road to progress begins with a road. Period.

Mike Hinrichsen

President, 474 Eastern Bypass Regional Coalition Inc., Woodford County Board, Tri-County Regional Planning Commission Board and Manager of Caterpillar Inc. Quarry & Aggregates accounts 100 N.E. Adams, Peoria Illinois and Phone is 309 636 1751.

Plus the entire Board of Directors:

Dennis Kief      Gary Manier

Don Gorman     Craig Loudermilk

Ken Maurer     Larry Ivory

Steve VanWinkle    Amy Benecke McLaren

Bill Dietrich