U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger joined Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association (IRTBA) Chairman Woodie Griffin, CEO Mike Sturino, and Mark Barkowski, of F.H. Paschen, at the construction underway of US Route 30 project in Will County. Elected officials were joined by local mayors, chambers of commerce, union representatives and related trade organizations. Business and labor groups highlighted the important benefits transportation brings to the national and regional economy. The US Route 30 infrastructure improvement is an example of a critical project in the region.
The $72.7 million Illinois Jobs Now! project consists of the reconstruction of US Route 30 in the Villages of Frankfort, Mokena and New Lenox. Among the improvements will be a wider, safer roadway, improved traffic flow, better stormwater management, noise mitigation and the installation of a bike path.
State Rep. Renee Kosel and Mayor Jim Holland of Frankfort, along with Frankfort Township Supervisor and Will County Board Chairman Jim Moustis, John Grueling of the Will County Center for Economic Development, and Jim Messmore from the Illinois Chamber of Commerce joined in echoing this message. They met at the new Frankfort Township Building to talk about what this project will mean to the quality of life and the economic well-being of the region.
"Providing for infrastructure is one of the most important functions of the federal government. In this harsh economy, we must recognize that highway construction and repair projects lead to job growth, particularly here in Illinois. When major highway construction is underway, tens of thousands of much-needed jobs can be generated annually. Investing in our nation's highway system ensures a stronger, more resilient economy," said Congressman Kinzinger.
"The bottom line is jobs and economic development. Many of the other things we strive for in the industry, however, are showcased in this project: safety, efficiency, and sustainability," noted IRTBA Chairman Woodie Griffin. "Investment in transportation brought 200 construction related jobs in this project alone, as well as improved access to communities and businesses in this region. Transportation investment is a success story that never ends."
The project was scored by the Illinois-Livable And Sustainable Transportation Rating System (I-LAST), a new sustainability scoring system created by IRTBA, the Illinois Department of Transportation and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois, modeled after the USGBCS's LEED green building certification program. The project received a design score of 68 out of 178 possible points.
The project was credited for such sustainability innovations as using locally produced materials, employing noise mitigation, providing for bicycle and pedestrian access, and using concrete with a 30-year-life designation. Additionally during construction, all existing roadway materials including concrete, asphalt, embankment and topsoil will be processed and reincorporated into the proposed roadway.
