MARION – September 1, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn was joined by Representative John Bradley (D-Marion), Senator Gary Forby (D-Benton) and other officials in Marion today to announce the Illinois Route 13 six-lane expansion project. The project is a result of the Illinois Jobs Now! program, a $31 billion dollar capital plan signed by Governor Quinn last month.

“I’m happy to see the capital program at work creating jobs, improving the state’s infrastructure and boosting the quality of life for residents across our state,” said Governor Quinn.

The $104 million dollar project will add a third lane in each direction to Illinois Route 13 from Division Street in Carterville to Williamson County Parkway in Marion. It will also create a supplemental frontage road to address issues including traffic mobility and efficiency.

“I am pleased to have helped craft a bill that ensures we receive our fair share here in Southern Illinois,” said Representative John Bradley (D-Marion). “The capital bill, a program several years in the making, invests heavily in local projects and getting our economy back on track.”

“We thank Governor Quinn for his commitment to our community. This expansion is very important to us,” said Senator Gary Forby (D-Benton). “We have seen a lot of accidents as a result of the high traffic count on IL Route 13, so we are very happy about what the future holds.”

Phase two of the project is underway, which consists of land acquisition and design. Construction is scheduled to begin next summer on the projects first contract. The entire improvement is expected to be complete by the fall of 2014.