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New Amtrak routes, improved roads and bridges in Illinois under Biden infrastructure bill

By FOX 32 Digital Staff
Published  April 2, 2021 12:10pm CDT
Transportation
FOX 32 Chicago

How Biden’s infrastructure plan could impact Illinois bridges, roads

Ed Maher from IUOE Local 150 talks about President Biden's $2T infrastructure plan could elevate the safety of Illinois' bridges and roads.

CHICAGO - President Joe Biden's massive infrastructure bill will connect Chicago rail riders to new cities.

The White House proposal includes $80 billion for Amtrak.

Amtrak released an enhanced service map on Thursday showing what it would do with the money.

Amtrak says it would add a route between Chicago and Rockford that hasn't been done since 1981.

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The proposal also includes an added route linking Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

The infrastructure plan also includes big spending to repair crumbling bridges and roads in Illinois.

Operating engineers union spokesman Ed Maher appeared on Good Day Chicago on Friday where he said there are 2,300 bridges in Illinois that are considered structurally deficient.

Maher said the Interstate 80 bridge in Joliet, which was among the state's worst, has been improved over the past two years.