Lake County elected officials and state and local government dignitaries joined Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton at Waukegan City Hall on July 1 for a ceremonial signing of the $45 billion “Rebuild Illinois” state infrastructure plan. The bill provides substantial funding for many Lake County area projects, including roads and bridges, schools, renewable energy, environmental and conservation programs, and other infrastructure improvements. It also creates related job opportunities in construction and the trades.

The bill funds some of the regionally beneficial transportation projects listed in the State Highway Consensus Plan that would relieve traffic congestion in Lake County. Lake County has worked closely with the Illinois Department of Transportation and its state elected officials to advance these projects. Among the projects included in the bill are the interchange reconstruction at U.S. 41 at IL 176 in Lake Bluff and North Chicago, the reconstruction and widening of IL 22 from Quentin Road to west of IL 83 in Kildeer and Long Grove, and the resurfacing, bridge and culvert replacement from west of Sheehan Drive to Munn Road in Lindenhurst and Lake Villa.