Coles County waiting for transportation improvement
Nicole Nicolas/ Features Reporter
Issue date: 4/9/04 Section: Local & State
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $275 billion highway and transit bill April 2 that will help improve Coles County transportation systems. While President George W. Bush is threatening to veto the bill, Congress is pushing to have the bill passed.
The next step for the bill is for the Senate and House of Representatives to hold a conference to approve it. If it is approved, it will go back to the senate committee where if passed it will go on to the president.
If the bill is passed this spring, the money will be awarded in the fall of 2005. The money will be used for improving the Illinois Central Depot Interstate 57 Interchange and Highways 18 and 22 .
The train station, which many students pass through when going home for breaks, will be turned into a museum by the Coles County Historical Society presenting the important role railroads played in the development of Illinois, Richard Kosler Mattoon city administrator, said. The train station will also undergo construction to renovate the active train station depot, he said.
Coles County is hoping, if all goes well, a contract will be set during winter 2005 to start the project.
"The building wouldn't be ready for occupancy 'til spring 2007," Kosler said.
County Engineer Fred Shrer is already busy designing the plan for the Interstate 57 Interchange and Highways 18 and 22.
"Representative Tim Johnson is the one who got the money for Coles County. We've worked closely with him," Shrer said.
The county has to be three steps ahead so the constructions can begin as soon as possible once Coles County receives the grant money for the projects, Shrer said. If the bill is passed this spring, construction could start as early as spring 2006.
"We're just waiting for the money for the projects. We're 95 percent done with the design," Shrer said.
The Interstate 57 Interchange is projected to be finished by 2009 if the bill passes.
In addition to the interstate interchange, Highway 22 could then be widened from 18 feet to 24 feet with the project nearing completion within a year. The Highway 18 project, which could be completed in approximately three months, would be repaved and widened to 24 feet. Highway 18 construction would accommodate farmers, Shrer said.
The next step for the bill is for the Senate and House of Representatives to hold a conference to approve it. If it is approved, it will go back to the senate committee where if passed it will go on to the president.
If the bill is passed this spring, the money will be awarded in the fall of 2005. The money will be used for improving the Illinois Central Depot Interstate 57 Interchange and Highways 18 and 22 .
The train station, which many students pass through when going home for breaks, will be turned into a museum by the Coles County Historical Society presenting the important role railroads played in the development of Illinois, Richard Kosler Mattoon city administrator, said. The train station will also undergo construction to renovate the active train station depot, he said.
Coles County is hoping, if all goes well, a contract will be set during winter 2005 to start the project.
"The building wouldn't be ready for occupancy 'til spring 2007," Kosler said.
County Engineer Fred Shrer is already busy designing the plan for the Interstate 57 Interchange and Highways 18 and 22.
"Representative Tim Johnson is the one who got the money for Coles County. We've worked closely with him," Shrer said.
The county has to be three steps ahead so the constructions can begin as soon as possible once Coles County receives the grant money for the projects, Shrer said. If the bill is passed this spring, construction could start as early as spring 2006.
"We're just waiting for the money for the projects. We're 95 percent done with the design," Shrer said.
The Interstate 57 Interchange is projected to be finished by 2009 if the bill passes.
In addition to the interstate interchange, Highway 22 could then be widened from 18 feet to 24 feet with the project nearing completion within a year. The Highway 18 project, which could be completed in approximately three months, would be repaved and widened to 24 feet. Highway 18 construction would accommodate farmers, Shrer said.
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