By ADAM SACASA

According to some Colchester residents, it’s been a long time since they’ve seen any major repairs on Highway 136, but after nearly 30 years things are about to change. 

The office of Senator John Sullivan  (D-Rushville) sent out a press release Wednesday detailing the recently passed comprehensive capital construction plan that governor Quinn signed Monday. 

The plan, which is the first in nearly a decade, will consist of approximately $30 billion for repairs on “aging schools, roads, bridges, water and sewer systems and more” according to the release.

Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig visited Macomb on Thursday to discuss the passage of the capital bill and what it means for the region.

Rather than focus on creating new projects, Hannig wanted a stronger focus on the existing projects that needed work. “Let’s look at what we already have 

and let’s get that up to some standard that we here in Illinois can be proud of,” Hannig said.

More than $250 million will be used for repairs on local roads including U.S. 136.

“It’s needed repairs real bad for a long time,” said Corner Café manager Jeannie Whitlock. “They just go and fix the little holes and the potholes get bigger every time it rains again.”

City of Colchester Street Department head and former Colchester mayor Bob Bice agrees. “They put some curb and gutters in around the old library around to Lovejoy Street. I can’t think of any other time they had done anything for it.”

Being a truck route, the wear and tear is expected, leaving the road cracked over time. Trucks frequent the route to make construction deliveries, stop at hog confinements and make other stops along the highway. 

According to Bice, some trucks that actually mean to take nearby 336 end up taking U.S. 136 because the sign for the turn off is easily missed. “The state has to change the signs to let them know where 336 is at because a lot of them miss that and they just drive right on through town because they’re used to the old route,” said Bice. He also adds that the amount of truckers passing by isn’t very large but it’s ‘a decent amount.’ 

Still, Colchester resident Wendell Beck sees things differently just a few miles down the road in Tennessee. “You get up there around six in the morning, it’s a madhouse.” Truckers, farmers and others use the highway to get to a café for breakfast, thus causing heavy use on the roadway.

Earlier attempts to submit grants for road repairs have gone unanswered.

Additional roads receiving funding include U.S. routes 24, 34 and 67 and Illinois routes 9, 10, 41, 54, 94, 96, 99, 100, 135, 164, 172 and 336. The bill also includes $70 million for a Macomb bypass at U.S. 67, U.S. 136 and Illinois 336.

U.S. route 34 will also see significant improvements with additional lanes, reconstructed intersections, replaced bridges, utility adjustments and engineering. $70 million will be allocated for land acquisition. 

For highway 336 to Peoria, the first phase is near completion. A public hearing about the highway will be held on August 13 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the V.F.W. Post offering the public the chance to tell those in charge of the project how they would like to see the work done. “It’s really a great opportunity for us at the department to collect some of the information.

In addition to roads, the capital bill will also entail school construction including a new performing arts center at Western Illinois University, money to revitalize universities and community colleges, sewer and water projects leaving a broad range of projects to improve the state.

Congress is in the process of re-writing the transportation bill. “When it’s all said and done, that we here in Illinois get our fair share of what gets done out in Washington,” said Hannig.

It’s going to be a challenging budget,” said Hannig. “It’s going to have a lot of difficult decisions to be made but we’ll do the best we can.”