Good news on Route 53 rebuilding

In a positive development for the 46th House District, Governor Quinn recently signed into law the capital bill that will fund several important projects in our community and around the state. Included in the bill was money to fund the much-awaited Route 53 resurfacing project that is currently underway. The construction of Route 53 from Army Trail Road to Irving Park Road is expected to be finished in September.

The capital bill also includes funding to completely rebuild Route 53 from Army Trail Road to the Elgin O'Hare Expressway. This project has been on the state's radar for years and was most recently scheduled for the Fiscal Year 2010 to 2015 Multiyear Highway Improvement Program. However, I asked IDOT officials for the project to be expedited. I recently received notice that the construction has been moved up and is expected to begin fall 2010.

Also included in the bill is construction on Lake Street, from Walnut to York Road. The project will include interchange reconstruction and new lighting and is expected to begin next year. This jobs and infrastructure program will bring crucial economic opportunities all across Illinois, and finally begin construction slated for roads, bridges, highways and schools that have been neglected for years. This bill, which will fund nearly $29 billion in state infrastructure improvements, is the first capital bill this state has had in nine years.

Getting the state back on track with a combination of infrastructure improvements and economic stimulus is vital to Illinois.

Dennis Reboletti

state representative, 46th District