More Illinois River sediment on its way to Chicago

EAST PEORIA — Ninety thousand tons of Illinois River sediment is on the way to Chicago for the creation of a new park.

Sediment is slowly choking the river. Fourteen million tons a year fills shipping channels and ruins habitat. So environmentalists thought of dredging up some of the sediment and shipping it to places where it can be used in construction.

One spot is the former site of a steel mill on Chicago’s South Side. The sediment can be spread over steel slag to create fertile soil.

Gov. Pat Quinn’s office said Wednesday that 114,000 tons of sediment from earlier phases of the park project is already covering 25 acres.

Now, an additional 60 barge loads is making the 163-mile trip.