Champaign Co. projects will receive part of $139M grant for Illinois transportation work
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Nearly $140 million in funding has been awarded to transportation projects around the state — including two projects in Champaign County that have been in the works for a while.
On Wednesday, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation announced that $139.2 million has been awarded through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program. The goal of the program is to expand local travel options and to enhance the quality of life in communities statewide, according to a news release from IDOT.
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$3 million will go toward Champaign's Kirby Avenue complete street project.
Project engineers told WCIA last year that the project would include replacing the bridge and adding bike lanes and pedestrian upgrades to the Kirby Avenue overpass. WCIA previously reported that the complete street project was a part of the city's comprehensive plan. Officials said they hoped to begin construction in the spring of 2026.
Savoy will receive $1.3 million to improve the Prairie Fields path. WCIA previously reported that the project would create multi-pathways and connect to other paths in Savoy.
Pritzker said the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program, which is a part of Rebuild Illinois, aims to help make travel safer and more accessible.
'Today, I'm proud to announce the largest investment in the program's history, with more than $139 million going toward bike lanes, sidewalks, trails and other local improvements,' Pritzker said. 'This is just one part of the state's larger effort to reverse decades of disinvestment and create more connected communities.'
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IDOT received 233 applications for an estimated $383 million in funding. IDOT said the projects chosen are based on their readiness and connection to transportation networks, as well as their ability to secure public support and provide public benefits. Areas with higher need are given additional consideration.
'When people think about where they want to raise their families, it's projects like these that really move the needle,' State Senator Paul Faraci (D-Champaign) said. 'When communities have complete streets, sidewalks and bike paths they become places people want to live.'
You can read more about the project and the project's recipients here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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