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Bustos highlights federal infrastructure funds for Illinois
Congresswoman Cheri Bustos of Illinois says the state’s farmers and rural residents will benefit greatly from the recently passed federal infrastructure bill.
Bustos says $10 billion is designated for highway repairs in Illinois.
“We’ve got about 6200 miles of highways that are considered in poor condition in our state. If you want to look back at 2011, commute times have increased by more than 7% in Illinois since then and now drivers are paying an average $600 more per year in costs because of driving on roads that need to be repaired.”
She says at least another $1.5 billion will be used to repair or replace the 2400 bridges within Illinois that engineers have deemed in bad shape.
Bustos adds at least $100 million is set aside for Illinois broadband infrastructure. “Right now we have 228,000 Illinois residents who don’t have broadband. Don’t have it period.”
Bustos says a large portion of the $2.5 billion assigned to lock and dam improvements will also be utilized on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers allowing more efficient transport of Illinois commodities and ag inputs.
