The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), US, has launched ‘Transforming Transportation for Tomorrow’, a new $9.2bn multiyear highway improvement programme.

The improvement scheme will maintain 2,302 miles of road and replace or rehabilitate 508 bridges.

Ann L. Schneider, IDOT secretary, said the department is to begin the multimodal approach towards planning and programming transportation projects and funding, further promoting the department’s goal to develop an even more integrated, effective and efficient transportation system for many years to come.

"We recognise that building a healthy, vibrant transportation network to develop and function properly through the 21st century means addressing the needs of our world-class highways, airports, railroads and public transportation systems as one interconnected system," added Schneider.

During the six year programme, $6.6bn will be spent on improving state highways and $2.6bn on the local highway system.

The multiyear programme plans to allocate $3bn on resurfacing, widening, reconstructing roads and other safety projects: $1.5bn for bridge work, $1.4bn for a congestion programme and $756m for new roads and increased access for economic development.

The estimated $9.2bn for the six year highway programme will include $6.5bn from federal funding and $2.2bn from state contributions. It will also include $454m in local funds and the final $1.2bn from the state programme ‘Illinois Jobs Now!’ The department has also planned for $1.8bn improvements for FY 2013 and the remaining amount will be spent in the following years.

Governor Quinn’s ‘Illinois Jobs Now!’ programme has already invested more than $9.5bn in the state’s highways system alone, from 2009 through 2011, and improved more than 6,000 miles of roadways and in excess of 840 bridges, while creating or preserving more than 125,000 jobs.