Illinois to spend another $102M on high-speed rail

The state of Illinois will spent $102 million to build a bridge over the Kankakee River along with other improvements as part of high-speed rail upgrades between Chicago and St. Louis.

Gov. Pat Quinn announced the funding on Sunday. The bridge will be built near Wilmington. The money also will pay for other safety and capacity efforts between Joliet and Dwight and a second set of tracks between Mazonia and Elwood.

The Illinois Department of Transportation will oversee the work done by Union Pacific Railroad. The construction will take place in 2016 and 2017. The governor's office says the project will create more than 900 construction jobs.

Including the $102 million the state of Illinois will have spent nearly $360 million on the Chicago to St. Louis rail route.