Illinois Providing $100M for Road, Pothole Repairs

The state of Illinois is giving local governments $100 million to help repair roads and address other transportation needs following a particularly brutal winter.

Gov. Pat Quinn announced the funding during a news conference in Chicago on Monday.

The money comes from the $31 billion statewide capital construction plan that Illinois lawmakers approved in 2009. It’s the fifth year that cities have split the $100 million in transportation funds.

Quinn says cities, townships and counties are encouraged to use the money to make roads safer. In many cases, that means filling potholes and other damage caused by recent extreme weather.

The funding includes $16.7 million for Cook County, about $502,000 for Sangamon County and $670,000 for Madison County.

Chicago is set to receive about $12.6 million.