* * *Media Advisory* * *
Biggert, Local Officials to Hold Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for I-55 Expansion

WHO:
- U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13th)
- Diane O’Keefe, Deputy Director of Highways, Region One Engineer
- State Representative Tom Cross, 84th Representative District
- State Representative Brent Hassert, 85th Representative District
- State Senator Arthur J. Wilhelmi, 43rd Legislative District
- State Senator Linda Holmes, 42nd Legislative District
- State Representative Jack McGuire, 86th Representative District
- Mayor John Noak, Village of Romeoville
- Mayor Roger Claar, Village of Bolingbrook
- Lawrence Walsh, Executive, Will County
 
WHAT:
Biggert will join several local officials for a ribbon cutting ceremony and press conference to celebrate the completion of major construction activities on one of Will County’s top transportation priorities, the widening of I-55 between Weber Road and I-80.
 
WHEN:   
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
10:00 am
 
WHERE:
Brunswick Zone XL
735 North Center Blvd.
Romeoville, IL 60446
 
WHY:
The bottleneck on I-55 between Weber Road and I-80 has been a long-time headache and safety hazard for suburban motorists.  Biggert, who over several years has placed high priorities on an expansion of I-55 in federal transportation legislation, will join other area officials to celebrate the completion of major construction on two new lanes for the roadway – one in each direction.  Construction on the project began in August 2006 and is expected to significantly reduce congestion in one of the fastest growing regions of the state.  In 2005, when Congress passed the last five-year federal transportation authorization bill, Biggert joined with her colleagues in the state’s congressional delegation to secure record funding -- $6.2 billion dollars -- for transportation projects in Illinois.  Included in that amount was approximately $4.4 million Biggert secured specifically for the work on I-55, about one third of the funding set aside for the 13th District.
 
Both the public and members of the media are encouraged to attend.

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