$2.5 million announced for continued engineering work and corridor studies.
PEORIA (April 18, 2013) – The Eastern Bypass Study this week got a green light with a boost of programming dollars from the state of Illinois.
Announced as part of Gov. Pat Quinn’s $12.6 billion, six-year infrastructure program was $2.5 million for continued engineering work and corridor studies of the Eastern Bypass.
“This funding announcement ensures the Bypass continues to breathe life at a time when we understand most funding is being allocated to important maintenance projects,” said Eastern Bypass Coalition Board of Directors President Mike Hinrichsen.
“We’re grateful the state sees the value in investing in such an important project for our future sustainability and competitiveness. We are exceptionally thankful to Gov. Pat Quinn, Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider, IDOT Region 3 Deputy Director Joseph Crowe, as well as area legislators and policy makers with whom we have worked hard the past year and a half to get our message across.”
The proposed Eastern Bypass would be a new highway connecting Interstate 74 with Illinois Route 6, east and north of Peoria. The project is in Phase One (Corridor Selection) with a final corridor expected to be selected yet in 2013. Needed for the next phase (Alignment) is an estimated $10 million.
The Eastern Bypass Board of Directors, which meets regularly, plans to continue to seek additional funding for the project to ensure it proceeds at full throttle. Phase 2 includes final design and land acquisition while Phase 3 is construction, operation and maintenance.
The more than 75 governmental bodies, lawmakers, businesses, organizations and local leaders who have officially logged support with IDOT in the past two years argue the project would strengthen the region’s economic development and growth opportunities. There is a need for better surface transportation connections between manufacturing and distribution facilities spread across the region and better access for commuters in Woodford and Tazewell counties.