In East St. Louis, a massive hole opened on Interstate 64, sending drivers swerving to avoid harm. In Quincy, a bridge was closed for a month following an expansion joint failure, forcing farmers and commuters to find another way to safely cross the Mississippi River. In Peoria, a busy road is crumbling, while outdated intersections lead to regular crashes. And in Springfield, a long-delayed highway widening project causes long delays and dangerous congestion. 

These are just a handful of examples representing a much larger infrastructure challenge across Illinois, with thousands of roads and bridges need repair or replacement. The state’s own transportation data makes the problem clear: roughly one-third of roads in the Chicago region are rated in fair or poor condition. Downstate, that number climbs to nearly 45 percent.

Despite meaningful progress in recent years under the Rebuild Illinois Capital Program, previous decades of underinvestment have left Illinois’ infrastructure at a breaking point. Passed in 2019, that program is investing a historic $25.4 billion across Illinois to help improve roads and bridges, creating jobs and economic opportunity in every corner of the state. Thousands of safety improvements have been made, and many miles of roads have been revitalized.

It’s great momentum, but more must be done to maintain Illinois’ position as the economic crossroads for the nation. The Illinois Department of Transportation deserves praise for their ability to stretch available resources as far as possible, but the reality is simple: without additional sustained, reliable funding, the system will continue to deteriorate.

There is no shortage of union workers and skilled laborers who could step up and take on these projects, but they cannot do it alone. We must take swift action to shore up funding for roads and bridges. If we wait, the problems will only grow larger and more urgent, impacting the safety of drivers and the economic health of our communities.

Poor road conditions contribute to more than one-third of fatal crashes statewide and cost Illinois drivers nearly $800 each year in vehicle repairs, wasted fuel, and depreciation—totaling an estimated $6.6 billion annually. That’s a direct hit to household budgets.

Meanwhile, the Illinois economy relies on roads and bridges to move goods efficiently. Indeed, 70 percent of communities across Illinois rely exclusively on trucks – and the roads and bridges they travel – to move products we use every day.

Improved roadways will reduce delays, increase efficiency and ensure the economy can continue to grow. Every dollar invested in Illinois infrastructure returns as much as $2.50 in economic activity. These projects create jobs, support local businesses, and strengthen communities across the state.

In fact, every $1 billion invested in infrastructure can support up to 25,000 jobs—many of them skilled, union positions that sustain families and fuel local economies, particularly in downstate communities.

Illinois must commit to sustained, long-term infrastructure investment that matches the scale of the challenge. With federal dollars in limbo, it is critical that the state builds on the progress of recent programs while ensuring reliable funding to address both immediate needs and future demands.

By continuing to prioritize rebuilding Illinois’ roads, policymakers can also strengthen our economy and support the growth of our communities.  We can continue to react to crises as they pop up one at a time, or we can invest now, fix what’s broken, and build a stronger, safer future for Illinois. The choice is clear.

-Tony Penn, Business Manager, Great Plains Laborers' District Council

-Dustin Ramage, Business Manager, Downstate Illinois Laborers' District Council