Sorensen, business leaders review QC infrastructure projects

U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen (Dem. – District 17) delivered and received messages on infrastructure improvements during a meeting with local workers, union officials, community leaders and business leaders. Some of those messages included: Laws, like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, are helping the economy by putting people to work and making needed improvements to […]

U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen (Dem. – District 17) delivered and received messages on infrastructure improvements during a meeting with local workers, union officials, community leaders and business leaders.

1 of 4

Some of those messages included:

• Laws, like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, are helping the economy by putting people to work and making needed improvements to communities.
• Union leaders say these are good economic times as their members are busy with projects around the Quad Cities.
• Some city and community leaders say it’s tough for smaller cities to gain access to grant money to help with infrastructure work.
• Even though much work has been done, there is a large amount of infrastructure that is still in dire need of repair or replacement.

“When we talk about infrastructure, many think of bridges and roads …. We don’t always think of the pipes underground. We take it for granted we can get fresh water. There are still some wooden (water) pipes underground in the Quad Cities,” said U.S. Rep. Sorensen on Monday, June 17, after a roundtable discussion and tour of  Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 25 facilities  at 4600 46th Ave., Rock Island. In fact, during a tour of the union facility on Monday, union members pointed out a 100-year-old wooden water pipe that was on display and had been removed from a water system in the area. During the meeting, the congressman and about 15 people from the region gathered to talk about the need to update local infrastructure projects, jobs, the economy and related issues. One of those included in the discussions was East Moline First Ward Alderwoman Olivia Dorothy.  She called Monday’s event a “great discussion” and was especially interested to hear the comments and solutions concerning problems smaller cities are having gaining access to state and federal level grants to help with infrastructure projects.(Several of those at the meeting commented that smaller communities don’t have the people with experience in grant writing to successfully go after grants.) Ms. Dorothy added that East Moline is looking for grant money because it has several projects – such as lead piping that needs to be replaced and an old storm sewer system – that need grants.  “We have systems that are beyond their life expectancy. … We’re in a ‘fix-as-it-fails’ mode right now,” she said. The East Moline city official added that she was pleased with the Monday event because it gave her tips on getting grant funds to help with those infrastructure projects. “I’m taking my notes back to the council,” she said. Other noteworthy topics discussed during the roundtable centered on the local economy. Several union officials commented that their workers are being kept busy with projects in the region. For instance, Matt Lienen, training coordinator at Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 25, said the union currently has about 100 members busy with various school projects in Iowa and Illinois. Those plumbing projects are in full swing right now because classes are out for the summer, and workers have a deadline of mid August to September to get the work done before students return to the classrooms. “The economy is good here. … (If more projects come up) we can add as many workers as needed to make things happen. We’ve had a really good year. It looks good going forward,” said Mr. Lienen. Brad Long, of Laborers Local 309 in Rock Island, also took part in the discussions. He said many area businesses have been eager to get projects done because they put people to work. He added that many have the mentality that if they don’t grow, they die. After Monday’s discussions, Mr. Sorensen said that communications will be key. First, people need to know that new federal laws are helping put people to work, helping the economy and helping get needed infrastructure projects completed. He added that communication is also needed to help communities apply for grant programs to get the needed money for the  infrastructure  work. Monday’s discussions came when infrastructure work was taking center stage at the state level. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently announced the largest multi-year program to build and repair infrastructure in state history: $41.42 billion over six years, spread across all modes of transportation and touching every Illinois county. The new program eclipses the previous record set last year and continues the momentum of the governor’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program. The program aims to modernize our transportation system and create economic opportunity while improving safety, mobility, and quality of life throughout the state. “Rebuild Illinois has been among my highest priorities since I became governor, after years of neglect and disinvestment that held back our state’s growth,” Mr. Pritzker said in a news release. “Over the next six years – stretching all the way to FY 2030 – we will continue making historic investments into improving every aspect of our infrastructure and in every part of our state. This plan is guiding the build-out of a world-class transportation system that all of Illinois deserves, and we are creating hundreds of thousands of quality jobs while doing it.” "By investing in our roads, bridges, public transit, and ports, we are unlocking opportunities, connecting residents to jobs and essential services, and building a stronger future for our state," said Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. "This plan puts the needs of Illinoisans at the forefront, ensuring that every corner of Illinois will benefit from these transformative investments for generations to come." Building on previous Pritzker administration efforts, IDOT’s new multi-year program is both comprehensive and multimodal, with investments in roads and bridges, aviation, transit, freight and passenger rail, waterways, as well as bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. The Fiscal Year 2025-30 Proposed Highway and Multimodal Improvement Program will invest $29.65 billion in state roads and bridges, with $5.3 billion identified for the current fiscal year. A total of $11.77 billion is programmed for other modes, which includes $7.5 billion for transit, $2.54 billion for freight and passenger rail, $1.57 billion for aviation, and $160 million for ports and waterways. Projects are across state and local transportation systems in all 102 counties in the state. The record $41.42 billion multi-year program is due in part to engineering and planning efforts in the early years of Rebuild Illinois and the passage of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, fueling increased construction activity. The previous record amount was $40.99 billion in 2023. Here are some of the local projects that will get attention under the multi-year program:

• I-74: $100.6 million for reconstruction and additional lanes of 3 miles, bridge replacements, interchange reconstruction, lighting, culvert replacements, land acquisition and additional improvements at Illinois 5 interchange in Moline. 
• I-80: $270.5 million to replace the bridge over the Mississippi River. Illinois is leading the project, with Iowa sharing equally in the cost. 
• Illinois 92: $54 million for reconstruction of 3.7 miles, traffic signal replacement and ADA improvements from Illinois 84 (North) in Silvis to 48th Street in Moline. 
• 27th Street: $58.2 million for bridge replacement at the Rock River, a bridge rehabilitation over I-280, reconstruction of 0.7 mile and other improvements from 52nd Avenue to Airport Road in Moline.