Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson (IL-15) has secured federal funding of $35 million for transportation and infrastructure improvement projects throughout his Downstate Illinois congressional district.  The House today has passed the Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (TEA-LU), the reauthorization of a six-year federal highway construction bill by a vote of 357-65.  Rep. Johnson, who sits on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, has obtained funding for 12 area construction projects as part of TEA-LU.

“The passage of TEA-LU is critical to the future of the 15th District,” said Rep. Johnson.  “This bill will not only bring jobs and safe, modernized infrastructure to our area, but it also builds a solid foundation for ongoing and future economic development.  This is one of the most important bills we will pass all year.  I am hopeful and confident that TEA-LU will quickly pass through the conference committee and reach the President’s desk and become law.  With the help from Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young, House Speaker Dennis Hastert and my colleagues from Illinois, we are able to bring home desperately needed dollars to our transportation dependent state.”

Specific projects for Illinois’ 15th District that are contained in TEA-LU include:

1. Mt. Carmel Bridge -- $7,200,000 -- A new structure over the Wabash River to connect Illinois and Indiana, boost area commerce, and spur economic development in Southeastern Illinois.
   
   
2. Curtis Road -- $7 million -- The ultimate development of Curtis Road will provide new access to I-57 for Champaign/Urbana, Mahomet and Savoy.
   
   
3. Winter Avenue, Danville -- $5,400,000 -- This will widen Winter Avenue and construct a bridge to create a safer access point to the City’s popular northside attraction, Winter Park.
   
   
4. Normal Multimodal Facility -- $5 million -- Will provide a hub for bus, train and airport facilities in Downtown Normal to better serve McLean County, Illinois State University, and all of Central Illinois.  (This is a priority for both Johnson and Rep. Jerry Weller who secured $2 million)
   
   
5. Cumberland Bridge -- $3million – Finish bridge, road between Burma Road and IL Rt. 130 in Cumberland County
   
   
6. Coles County Interchange -- $2 million – Upgrade County Highways 18 and 22 in conjunction with state I-57 interchange plan north of Mattoon.
   
   
7. UI Research Park Daycare Facility -- $1.5 million – Construct daycare facility collocated with a park and ride facility at the University of Illinois Research Park
   
   
8. Mattoon Depot - $1.5 million -- The heavily used historic train depot in the heart of Mattoon badly needs renovation.
   
   
9. I-55 Interchange Project -- $1 million -- This will provide long-overdue maintenance to the interchanges for McLean County communities of Lexington and Towanda.
   
   
10. Monticello Trucking Route -- $1 million – Study, design and construct a designated truck route through Monticello.
    
    
11. Grandview Township Road 1, Edgar County -- $320,000 – Improve safety of horizontal curve on 250th Rd. in Grandview Township.
    
    
12. Grandview Township Road 2, Edgar County -- $80,000 - Improve safety of horizontal curve on 725th St. in Grandview Township.

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