FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 11, 2024
Contact: Danielle Grindle
Phone: (815) 319-4233
Email:
WINNEBAGO COUNTY, Ill. – The Rockford Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Policy Committee has awarded Winnebago County with the Surface Transportation Block Grant in the amount of $4,457,107 to partially fund the South Perryville Road Rehabilitation project sponsored by the Winnebago County Highway Department.
The scope of the project includes resurfacing of the existing 50-year-old pavement, median replacement, installation of new traffic signals and drainage improvements spanning from south of Harrison Avenue and extending to State Street. Currently, there are no accommodations for pedestrians or bicyclists along this stretch of road. This project will also provide a multi-use path including pedestrian traffic signals, crosswalks, and ADA-compliant ramps.
"Perryville Road is one of the most important corridors in Winnebago County, and it is long overdue for these upgrades," said County Engineer Carlos Molina. "It connects Rockford and Cherry Valley, and is a critical economic and transportation engine for the County. This funding will go a long way in improving this crucial roadway into our community."
The Surface Transportation Block Grant program (STBG) provides flexible funding that may be used by States and local municipalities for projects to preserve and improve the conditions and performance on any Federal‐aid highway, bridge and tunnel projects on any public road, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and transit capital projects.
The Region 1 Planning Council (R1) is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Rockford Region. The MPO Policy Committee, consisting of elected officials in the region as well as Rockford Mass Transit District and the IDOT Region 2 Engineer, has the specific responsibility to direct and administer the continuing urban transportation planning process.
"Thank you to my fellow members of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee for their support for this much needed rehabilitation of our infrastructure," said Winnebago County Board Chairman Joe Chiarelli. "We are now actively pursuing federal funds to assist in the engineering portion of this project, which is the essential first step in the preliminary planning phase."
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