SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Construction on a critical portion of I-57 is now finished. While you will still see cones and barricades near Champaign, trips to Chicago and the southwest suburbs will be much smoother.

I-57 is the longest interstate in Illinois, spanning nearly 360 miles from Chicago to Cairo. Roughly 20 miles of I-57 are now patched and resurfaced and two bridges are repaired along the south suburban corridor. The multiyear improvements cost $82.1 million.

"Over the nearly 60 years since I-57 was first built, this region has grown exponentially," Gov. JB Pritzker said Tuesday. "And with it, I-57's capacity fell drastically behind. Rundown surfaces, frequent closures, major congestion and dangerous conditions."

Pritzker said it was clear the interstate deserved significant investments from the Rebuild Illinois capital spending plan. Lawmakers approved more than $219 million for bridge replacements, interchange upgrades and other improvements throughout Kankakee and Iroquois counties. They also earmarked $251.8 million to rebuild the I-57/74 interchange in Champaign-Urbana.

"This project practically overnight positively impacts safety, quality of life and reliability in this region," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. "They are helping to deliver a long-term, comprehensive solution to preserve and modernize one of the state's key assets in I-57." 

Gov. JB Pritzker IDOT

Governor JB Pritzker celebrates I-57 improvements during a press conference in Markham on November 28, 2023.

Suburban lawmakers told reporters in Markham that the improvements help local families and companies across the country. In fact, many businesses are able to send their products from the northeast corner of the state to the southwest tip and across the bridge to Missouri.

"Programs like this are what are absolutely necessary to make sure that we are continuing to make Illinois a destination as a whole," said Rep. Will Davis (D-Homewood). 

The Pritzker administration announced an expansion of the Rebuild Illinois plan this summer to invest another $41 billion in infrastructure projects over the next six years.

"We're building our future with ambition, with efficiency, and with purpose. That future really couldn't be brighter," Pritzker said. 

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