…Adding… IDOT goofed, but the sentiment still stands…
* Illinois is the crossroads of America. We’re a top Internet hub connecting east and west. Our massive rail network and our largest airport are vital to the nation’s economic strength. And our highway network has long been a boon to interstate commerce.
So, this sort of thing must not be allowed to happen…
* This is the same bridge we discussed back in February…
Interstate 80 motorists last week started seeing billboard warnings about the Des Plaines River bridge, courtesy of a construction workers union.
The electronic billboard messages come after news last week of inspection reports that rated bridge conditions as critical and intolerable. […]
One says, “Cross bridge at your own risk.”
The other says, “Bridge ahead in critical condition.”
The I-80 bridge in Joliet is “among the worst in Illinois. It’s certainly in the top 10,” said Edward Maher, communications director for Countryside-based Local 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers.
I’m hearing lawmakers are being briefed on the governor’s capital bill proposal today. You’ll know more when I know more, but from what I’m hearing it’s pretty big.
* Hannah Meisel at the Daily Line…
Gov. JB Pritzker’s office was the catalyst behind labor group AFL-CIO Illinois putting together a coalition to push for “vertical projects” — that is schools, public buildings and hospitals — to be included in a final capital bill, sources said.
Three sources confirmed to The Daily Line this week that Pritzker’s office set in motion the formation of Build Up Illinois, a coalition of 45 universities, health, housing and education associations and unions from around the state with vested interests in a “vertical” component to the first capital bill in a decade.
It’s unclear what Build Up Illinois’ members’ final request will be for capital funding. In deferred maintenance needs alone, the coalition points to a combined $23.9 billion for just public universities, elementary, middle and high schools and state facilities. But the coalition is also vying for money for private universities, affordable housing, hospitals and veterans’ homes, which would include brand new construction.
- Anyone Remember - Friday, May 17, 19 @ 11:33 am:
Westbound Jefferson Barracks Bridge across the Mississippi (I-255) is closed indefinitely …
- wordslinger - Friday, May 17, 19 @ 11:34 am:
–Joliet: A hole in the eastbound Interstate 80 Des Plaines River bridge deck has closed two of three lanes.–
With this and the bridge, I’m surprised that the federales haven’t cut off road funds to Illinois until it can get its act together. I-80 is a major artery of interstate commerce.
- Not a Billionaire - Friday, May 17, 19 @ 11:45 am:
We have the 255 bridge jointly with Missouri and their voters keep voting down any gas tax increase.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, May 17, 19 @ 11:51 am:
===With this and the bridge, I’m surprised that the federales haven’t cut off road funds to Illinois until it can get its act together.===
Unless there is some type of official malfeasance with misuse of funds or not meeting a federal requirement, not likely to happen. I recall the days when the feds were going to start cutting off up to 10% highway funding to states that didn’t pass “age 21″ drinking laws, and a few of them resisted but pretty soon all were on board. But that was a federal law of 1984.
- Grand Avenue - Friday, May 17, 19 @ 11:51 am:
Honestly, I read that tweet as “A-hole in the eastbound Interstate 80 Des Plaines River bridge deck has closed two of three lanes.”
- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, May 17, 19 @ 11:54 am:
Grand Avenue 11:51 - That happens occasionally on the Des Plaines bridge, too!
- RNUG - Friday, May 17, 19 @ 11:55 am:
Went across I-80 a couple of weeks ago. Scary thing is the roads in Illinois are actually a bit better than Indiana.
On the Illinois side, I had a close call at the mm 137 exit when a van driver took out 3 sand filled barrels, hit the concrete barrier, then flipped up in front of all of us. How everyone got stopped without any additional wrecks was a miracle … and the van driver managed to climb out of the passenger side window on his own.
- Slugger O'Toole - Friday, May 17, 19 @ 12:11 pm:
==sentiment still stands…==
It kinda reinforces the sentiment. We have so many failing bridges we get them mixed up.
- Leatherneck - Friday, May 17, 19 @ 12:34 pm:
Will the capital bill include a 3-laned I-55/72 around Springfield? (Currently it’s already 3-lanes from Lincoln to Sherman, and the South 6th Street exit to the Auburn exit).
One could even make an argument for 4-lanes on that stretch too.
- Ares - Friday, May 17, 19 @ 12:42 pm:
The Federal Govt is giving away $1.5T via the 2017 tax-cut act. Local govts around Joliet are giving away millions in sales tax rebates, property-tax abatements, tax incentives, and other diversions (such as TIFs) to intermodal-related companies, from Amazon on down. And Amazon pays no Federal taxes, to boot. Our President has likely paid no Federal taxes in 20 yrs.
The $$$ is there for infrastructure, if we stop giving it away or foregoing it.
- Joe Procol Haram - Friday, May 17, 19 @ 1:56 pm:
“We have the 255 bridge jointly with Missouri and their voters keep voting down any gas tax increase.”
They’ve had a higher income tax for a long time.
- BigDoggie - Friday, May 17, 19 @ 2:00 pm:
After steadfastly refusing to put sustainable funding in place to address transportation infrastructure for decades, we seemed to be on the brink of finally getting it done. Just watch - this vertical thing will now muck it all up. Illinois always finds a way….