Western Illinois residents have lobbied for decades for improvements to U.S Route 34 through Henderson and Warren counties to make travel through the region safer.
They could soon see some progress.
“I think that the traveling public is going to be very happy with this investment in U.S. 34,” said Karen Dvorsky, Program Development Engineer for the Illinois Department of Transportation.
The recently announced Rebuild Illinois five-year program includes funding for two stretches of the highway:
- Biggsville to Kirkwood. Dvorsky said the construction plans are essentially done, and now the state is acquiring land. She said once that’s done, the state can put the project out for bid. Construction could begin in the next couple of years. Rebuild Illinois includes $64 million for the project.
- Gulfport to near Gladstone. Dvorsky said the state is just about done with the first phase of engineering. IDOT will soon begin the second phase, which will include creating the construction drawings and acquiring land. “It’s not going to happen quite as soon as Biggsville to Kirkwood, but we’re making good progress on that section,” Dvorsky said. Rebuild Illinois includes $174.5 million for that 8.7-mile stretch.
Dvorsky said road projects were significantly underfunded for several decades in Illinois and across the nation. Then, Rebuild Illinois and the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law were both approved and implemented in recent years.
“We’ve got money now for these projects that have been either studied or ready for construction. That is the major reason why you’re seeing movement now,” she said.
The goal for Route 34 is to widen it from a two-lane rural road to a divided, four-lane highway.
Advocates for the project say there have been a number of deaths and injuries through the years from traffic crashes on the two-lane stretches of the road, where there is no median and not much of a shoulder in many spots.
They say a divided, four-lane highway will improve safety, especially given the amount of truck traffic on the highway. They say it could also increase opportunities for economic development.
Construction crews completed a 4.7 mile, four-lane bypass around West Central High School in Biggsville in 2014. Supporters said this has increased safety -- especially for students -- and has reduced traffic crashes.
Dvorsky said the newly announced projects won’t complete the goal of having a divided, four-lane Highway 34 from the Mississippi River to Galesburg, where it connects with Interstate 74. “But we’re getting close,” she said.
Dvorsky said once the Biggsville to Kirkwood and Gulfport to Gladstone sections are done, all that will be left to complete on Highway 34 will be the section from Kirkwood to Monmouth.
“We’re optimistic that in the near future that it can qualify for the funds to complete the project,” she said.
Funding for more road projects in the region
As TSPR reported previously, Rebuild Illinois also includes funding to elevate the approach to the Mississippi River bridge in Hamilton.
According to the state, other Rebuild Illinois highway projects in the region for the period from Fiscal Year 2025 to Fiscal Year 2030 include:
Adams County
Quincy Memorial Bridge: $156 million for bridge replacement at Mississippi River in Quincy. Illinois is the lead agency; Missouri and Illinois will share these costs equally.
Illinois 104: $13.9 million for resurfacing 4.2 miles, intersection reconstruction, traffic signal replacement, traffic signal modernization and ADA improvements from west of 12th Street to I-172 in Quincy.
Fulton, Knox, and McDonough counties
Illinois 41: $29.3 million for resurfacing of 11.7 miles and utility adjustments from Illinois 116 to Illinois 9.
Fulton County
U.S. 24/Illinois 9: $137.6 million for expansion to four lanes on 8.6 miles and bridge replacements from Banner to Kingston Mines. The project goes into Peoria County.
Pike County
I-72: $135.4 million for resurfacing on 28.4 miles, shoulder reconstruction, underdrain work, bridge deck repairs, bridge joint replacement/ repair and bridge deck overlay from Illinois 96 to U.S. 54/Illinois 107.
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