The Illinois Department of Transportation will provide Pekin with $4 million in grants for a road construction project that will help connect some of the city’s major business corridors.
The Pekin City Council on Monday approved entering into a local government agreement with IDOT, meaning the city will receive grant money that will cover 80% of the engineering of the Veterans Drive extension between Sheridan Road and Interstate 474.
According to Beijing City Manager John Dossey, the city must release $1 million to finance the remainder of the project, which is estimated to cost a total of $5 million.
“This project was chosen for funding by Rep. Darin LaHood because he has been a longtime supporter of it,” Dossey said.
Map of the planned expansion of Veterans Drive in Pekin.
Beijing City Engineer Josie Esker said the project will include planning and design work. The goal is to have plans and specifications ready for Veterans Drive from Sheridan Road to Illinois Route 98 and from IL-98 to I-474.
“Having the engineering work completed will increase our chances of a successful grant application for construction dollars and will help accelerate the construction timeline if grant money is received,” she added.
Engineering will begin in early 2025. Esker estimates the project will take about two years. Early this year, the City Council approved a $14 million purchase of land that will be used as part of the project.
“The city of Pekin has great potential to become a greater economic force in the region, and the construction of Veterans Drive on Interstate 474 will enhance this potential,” Esker said. “This expansion will connect the eastern retail corridor of the city of Pekin to the major employers on the south side of Pekin.”
The council passed the resolution 5-1, with Councilman Rick Hilst opposing the action. Councilman Lloyd Orrick was not present.
This article originally appeared in Journal Star: Pekin, Illinois, to receive $4 million IDOT grant for Veterans Drive engineering
