State's engineers ready
Over the next five years, the federal infrastructure bill will invest over $17 billion in Illinois alone. But before any shovels are dug into the ground or any concrete is poured, thousands of professionals across the state will have to collect data, design, and engineer what will become the nation's most modern surface transportation network.
Luckily, Illinois' engineers are ready to get to work to make these historic investments a reality for our state.
The American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois represents 11,000 engineers, architects, land surveyors, and other specialists around the state. These professionals will be the first of many workers to pitch in on this effort, laying the groundwork for our highest priority infrastructure projects to get built.
The once-in-a generation investments laid out in President Biden's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act include $9.8 billion to rebuild and redesign interstates and $1.4 billion to repair and replace bridges right here in Illinois.
With this new investment, projects like the long-awaited reconstruction of the Eisenhower Expressway and widening I-270 in Madison County and its bridge over the Mississippi River are now real possibilities.
These federal funds will compound an already historic $45 billion investment from Governor Pritzker's Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan, allowing Illinois to continue its claim as the infrastructure hub of the nation.
Both the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the state's Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan were made possible by a coalition of leaders in Washington and Springfield who understood that our families and our economy could not wait any longer for vital upgrades to our physical infrastructure.
Like the bipartisan majorities in Congress and the General Assembly that made these investments possible, Illinois' engineering community is ready to work together to get Illinois and the nation leading the world in infrastructure once again.
Kevin Artl, President & CEO
American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois