Region has numerous capital projects on hold until budget is passed
BY KURT ERICKSON, The Southern Springfield Bureau
Monday, June 1, 2009 2:12 PM CDT
SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois lawmakers left town early Monday morning, but their summer vacations will likely be interrupted in the coming weeks.

Unable to agree on a way to bring more revenue to state coffers, they left Gov. Pat Quinn with a makeshift budget plan that could result in major cuts to state social service programs.

In response, Quinn said he'd hold hostage $30 billion worth of construction spending until a better budget plan is worked out.

For Southern Illinois, that means projects like the $103 million widening of Illinois Route 13 between Marion and Carbondale will be in limbo until things are sorted out in Springfield.

Following is a rundown of some of the other projects that are part of the proposed statewide construction program.

- $925,000 for the Saline Valley Water Conservancy District for improvements to the Stonefort Water Supply Line;

- $740,000 for sewer work in Benton;

- $163,000 for a new water tower in Christopher;

- $205,000 for roadwork in Colp;

- $324,000 for water lines in Herrin;

- $220,000 for sewer and water work in Carbondale;

- $100,000 to John A. Logan College for various improvements;

- $125,000 to the Lighthouse Shelter in Marion for upgrades;

- $125,000 each to the Roan Center in West Frankfort and the Williamson County Child Advocacy Center,

- $100,000 each to Harrisburg, Cairo, Zeigler, Carterville, Franklin County, Murphysboro, Pinckneyville, Du Quoin, Williamson County, Metropolis, and West Frankfort for infrastructure improvements;

- $90,000 for work in Buckner and Chester;

- $80,000 to the Jonesboro, Williamson County Airport Authority for upgrades;

- $75,000 each for infrastructure work in Marion, Johnston City, Royalton, Eldorado, West Frankfort High School;

- $50,000 each for improvements in Sesser, Galatia; Elkville, Crainville, Cambria, Pulaski County, Pope County, Tamms and the Rend Lake Conservancy District;

- $50,000 for improvements at the Boys and Girls Club in Carbondale;

- Southern Illinois Healthcare and Heartland Regional Medical Center and Shawnee Health Center would each get $50,000 for improvements. Franklin Hospital in Benton would get $125,000;

- $25,000 each for improvements in Equality, Union County, Norris City, Gallatin County and the Marion Regional Humane Center, Dongola, Joppa, Vienna and Carrier Mills;

- $40,000 each for improvements at Southeastern Illinois College, Saline County, Shawnee Community College, Energy, Ava, Alto Pass, Cobden, Grand Tower and Vergennes;

- $30,000 each for improvements in Bush, Creal Springs, Hurst, Spillertown, Freeman Spur and Makanda;

- $25,000 each to Ewing, West City, the Benton Civic Center and the Herrin Civic Center for upgrades.

Other projects on hold because of the dispute include Southern Illinois University’s long sought Transportation Education Center, which will cost about $56 million.

Rend Lake College also is awaiting release of about $450,000 for an art program addition.

Prisons in Anna and Vienna will get fixed up, too. The Anna Veterans Home would get a 50-bed addition for $700,000, and Choate Mental Health and Development Center in Anna would get about $9 million for safety and fire alarm improvements.

Pyramid State Park also stands to get nearly $900,000 to upgrade a building for a mine rescue station. Giant City State Park would get $491,000 for sewer system upgrades.

School districts in Benton, Du Quoin and Johnston City would finally get state construction money they were promised in 2002.