MT. VERNON, IL — The widening of I-57 to three lanes from Marion to Mt. Vernon has finally received funding to make the project a reality.

State Representative Terri Bryant says a day she and likely many others have thought about, will finally come because of the recently passed infrastructure bill.

City Councilman Jim Rippy said he learned from a recent personal experience that even the short drive from Mt. Vernon to the I-24/I-57 interchange gets too congested.

Rippy passed along his experience at the end of last week’s city council meeting.

Interstate 57 is already three lanes for six miles from Marion to Johnston City, and work has started to add a third lane six more miles to West Frankfort.