BENTON, IL — Gov. JB Pritzker and IDOT Secretary Omar Osman made a stop in Benton Wednesday where they were joined by Benton Mayor Fred Kondritz, State Sen. Dale Fowler and State Representative Dave Severin to announce the next phase of the Interstate 57 widening through Southern Illinois, another cornerstone project of the Rebuild Illinois Capital Program.

The latest improvements are part of $268 million being advanced through Rebuild Illinois to fix and improve I-57 in the region, improving safety and mobility while creating thousands of construction and permanent jobs.

A $67.6 million dollar project will begin next month to widen nine miles of I-57 six lanes north of Illinois 149 to south of Illinois 154. This will include a median barrier, resurfacing of the existing lanes, updating deficient guardrail and rumble strips will also be added. The bridges over the Big Muddy River will also be replaced.

In addition to this project, the state will also invest $164 million dollars through Rebuild Illinois to complete the expansion of I-57 in future years to Mt. Vernon, as well as replacing bridges over Marcum Branch, Gun Creek, Dodds Creek and reconstructing the I-57/64 interchange with Illinois 15 near Mt. Vernon.

The entire project is set to be completed in 2025.