Budget may limit county funding
For the 2009 fiscal year Illinois state budget Gov. Rod Blagojevich will allocate more than $14 billion for road and bridge repair across the state.
Yet, this money may not be used to adequately help fund Coles County road projects already that are being constructed.
Coles County Engineer Rick Johnson said three county road projects may not receive the state funding they require as a result of the new budget.
“If we don’t get a capital bill in place, there might not be enough state funding for the projects,” he said.
The projects include the white topping of the concrete overlay for the Coles County station on Dole Road and the extension of the Exit 192 interchange on I-57.
The extension will connect the interchange, which leads directly into the industrial district of Mattoon, via County Road 1000 North to Charleston.
These projects are expected to cost between $18 to $20 million.
The construction of the original exit 192 interchange on I-57 cost $20 million and was completed in January.
Johnson said county and local funds will be used to pay for roughly half of the project costs. He said these funds come from tax levies like the