Illinois state government has announced plans to make an investment of $11.05bn to improve its roads and bridges over the next six years, including $2.2bn of state and federal funding in the next fiscal year.

Under the initiative, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDoT) has proposed a multi-year highway improvement programme, which will focus on projects that provide economic benefits to communities.

Governor of Illinois Bruce Rauner said:  “Investing in transportation creates jobs and economic opportunity, improves safety and makes Illinois a better place to raise a family. This plan will make Illinois more competitive while protecting the interests of the taxpayers.”

Rauner also announced that the Peoria’s McClugage Bridge at eastbound US 150 will be replaced next year at a cost of $205m with the completion of the final design this year.

The highway improvement programme proposed by the IDoT for the financial year 2019-2024 aims to improve a total of 1,945 miles of road and 525 bridges that are maintained by the state.

“This plan will make Illinois more competitive while protecting the interests of the taxpayers.”

Additionally, the multi-year programme also includes funding for upgrading more than 750 miles of local roads and 922,933ft2 of state bridges.

Illinois transportation secretary Randy Blankenhorn said: “At the governor’s direction, IDoT continues to innovate in how it chooses which projects to build. This is a plan that gets the state on the right track toward truly meeting the needs of our communities and building a 21st century system of transportation.”

The investment announced by the government will also be used for the reconstruction of US 20/Rockford Bypass in Rockford ($26m), as well as for replacing and carrying out repair works at the Third Street exit and ramps to Martin Luther King Drive in East St Louis ($36m).

The government has also allocated $12.7m for building additional lanes on 4.5 miles of Interstate 57 from Johnson City to West Frankfort, and $148.4m for bridge works and other improvements on Interstate 80 through Will County.

IDoT will be adopting asset management strategies, which focus on carrying out smaller repairs avoiding the higher costs of deferred maintenance.