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Do better
Monday, Apr 27, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * 2025 numbers from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association…
The ARTBA’s numbers are based on data from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Bridge Inventory. * As you surely know, Illinois passed a massive capital projects bill in 2019, including a doubling of the Motor Fuel Tax to catch it up with inflation since the last tax increase. Part of that money is supposed to be used to fix bridges. But the state’s infrastructure was in such poor shape and the repairing pace has lagged so badly that the state has been losing ground, even as it builds new bridges. * In 2018, Illinois had 2,273 structurally deficient bridges, or 8.5 percent of its 26,809 bridges. So, Illinois has 118 more bridges than it did in 2018, but 9.5 percent are now structurally deficient, up from 8.6 percent of fewer bridges in 2018. Bottom line: That’s almost a 13 percent increase in the number of structurally deficient bridges since the year before the capital plan was enacted.
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- okay - Monday, Apr 27, 26 @ 1:13 pm:
Also doesn’t help that Trump cancelled the federal infrastructure spending that would have paid for some of these projects.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Apr 27, 26 @ 1:19 pm:
===Also doesn’t help that Trump ===
Doubtful it had any major impact last year. Our capital bill was also much larger than Biden’s.
But, if you must, just concentrate on the rising number of structurally deficient bridges from 2018 to 2024. Disproves your theory.
- The Opinions Bureau - Monday, Apr 27, 26 @ 1:44 pm:
Illinois has built over 16,000 new lane miles over the last 25 years even as our population remained stagnant. Congestion has gotten worse and worse over the same period. Perhaps our state highway department and its counterparts at the local level ought to focus on maintaining what roads we have and providing alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles instead building more and more infrastructure we can’t afford to maintain.
- Not Rich - Monday, Apr 27, 26 @ 1:55 pm:
This guy wants to run for President but he still can’t get money out the door from his 2019 capitol program.
- Tom - Monday, Apr 27, 26 @ 2:06 pm:
Where is all the new gas tax money going? The administration needs to get moving.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Apr 27, 26 @ 2:08 pm:
===Where is all the new gas tax money going? ===
Piling up in the bank.
- btowntruth from forgottonia - Monday, Apr 27, 26 @ 2:18 pm:
Federal money has been severely lacking for infrastructure for years and years too.
Isn’t just a state problem….
Buuuuuuuuut the state has been lacking there too.
“Do better” indeed.
- twowaystreet - Monday, Apr 27, 26 @ 2:31 pm:
Another example illustrating why voters dislike new taxes and distrust the government. We pay taxes for things, but then we never see the results.
Maybe Pritzker can distribute copies of Abundance to his team for inspiration.
- Demoralized - Monday, Apr 27, 26 @ 2:43 pm:
It doesn’t help that the procurement process takes so long.
- Huh? - Monday, Apr 27, 26 @ 2:43 pm:
The article tells a partial story. There is no division between bridges owned by IDOT and those owned by local agencies.
There are approximately 18,956 locally owned bridges in Illinois, based on National Bridge Inspection Program data.
While IDOT has access to a multi-billion dollar road fund, the local agencies subsist on MFT allotment, formula federal funds, competitive major bridge grants, and Township Bridge allotments.
Many townships must accumulate funds for bridge projects. Depending on the Township, it may take 2-4 years to fund a single bridge project.
The IDOT Districts must program road and bridge projects on a 5 year cycle. They are have limited budgets.
Depending on the complexity of a project, it takes 18-24 months to go through the Phase 1 environmental engineering studies process. Phase 2 design takes 12-18 months provided land acquisition can be completed in a timely manner.
A bridge that is designated structurally deficit does not mean the bridge is unsafe for continued use. Such bridges may be the subject of increased inspection.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Monday, Apr 27, 26 @ 3:14 pm:
===Illinois has built over 16,000 new lane miles over the last 25 years===
Where? I’d be surprised if it was 10% of that.
- Huh? - Monday, Apr 27, 26 @ 3:33 pm:
“… Perhaps our state highway department and its counterparts at the local level ought to focus on maintaining what roads we have and providing alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles instead building more and more infrastructure we can’t afford to maintain. …”
What a delusional thought. Just what makes you think that the local agencies are more interested in building new roads that maintaining the existing system? They don’t have the money to build new.
- Mike Murphy - Monday, Apr 27, 26 @ 3:37 pm:
This is disappointing. One of the reasons I supported the 2019 Capital Bill was the information I received at the time about the number of bridges in need of repair. It’s frustrating to see funds sitting unused while the number of bridges in disrepair continues to grow—this is not what we had hoped for.