MT. VERNON, IL — The City of Mt. Vernon, Franklin County, and Williamson County are among 21 communities in Illinois that will see part of $7 million to upgrade roads to accommodate local truck traffic, leveraging a total investment of $36 million that will create jobs and boost economic activity. Mt. Vernon will get $20,700 for upgrades on Shiloh Drive from the south entrance of Magnum Steel Works to Lake Terrace Northeast. The total cost of this project is $466,335.

Franklin County will see $318,500 for upgrades on Illinois 14 starting at Illinois 148 and ending at Illinois 184. The total cost of this project is $800,000. Williamson County will see $250,000 for upgrades on Thompsonville Road starting at Corinth Road and ending at Locust Grove Road. The total cost of this project is $750,000.

The grants are made possible through IDOT’s Truck Access Route Program, which allows counties, municipalities and townships to apply for assistance in upgrading roads to accommodate 80,000-pound trucks and become designated truck routes. A maximum of $900,000 can be awarded to projects that improve connections to other designated truck routes and businesses that generate truck traffic.