Durbin, Duckworth, Foster Announce More Than $500k In Federal Funding For Rural Transportation Infrastructure

Durbin, Duckworth, Foster Announce More Than $500k In Federal Funding For Rural Transportation Infrastructure

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) today announced $592,469 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program.

This award will support planning, design, and engineering activities for the replacement of three rural bridges that cross the Piscasaw Creek on Squaw Prairie Road, Marengo Road, and Lawrenceville Road in rural Bonus Township.

"Investments in rebuilding and modernizing Illinois' transportation infrastructure, especially in rural communities, are critical to improving residents' quality of life," said Durbin. "This award will allow Boone County to make improvements that meet the demands of the 21^st century. Senator Duckworth, Representative Foster and I will continue working to ensure our state has the federal resources to improve and expand Illinois' infrastructure."

"Replacing bridges is more than just an investment in local infrastructure-it's about making it faster, safer and more efficient for all of us to get around our communities," Duckworth said. "I'm proud to see this funding come to Belvidere to help replace three critical bridges over Piscasaw Creek and make crossings safer for Illinoisans. I'll continue working alongside Senator Durbin, Congressman Foster and local leaders to ensure our communities have the resources they need to strengthen and modernize our infrastructure for generations to come."

"Every community deserves safe, reliable infrastructure that keeps residents connected and supports local economic growth," said Foster. "That's why I was proud to support the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is now delivering nearly $600,000 to help replace three rural bridges over Piscasaw Creek in Belvidere. These important upgrades will improve safety and transit, and better serve Boone County families and local businesses for years to come."

This pilot program is funded through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which Durbin, Duckworth, and Foster supported. The Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program provides grants to support legal, technical, and financial advisors to help advance infrastructure projects.

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