Saturday, June 19, 2010
 
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Quinn refutes slow-construction criticism

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[June 19, 2010]  SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Pat Quinn says Illinois is having its most productive public works season in its history, despite the lack of visible projects.

Those expecting renovation and construction of roads, bridges, hospitals and schools in their area may have to wait a couple more months until work begins.

Last year, Quinn and lawmakers passed a six-year construction plan that would potentially bring in $31 billion in contracted work and more than 439,000 jobs.

According to state records, Illinois had set aside more than $3.3 billion in money for public works projects this year. From that $3.3 billion, almost $464 million already has been spent on projects, while another $585 million is reserved under contract.

That leaves $2.3 billion still on the table for dozens of projects around the state.

Quinn said state agencies and public bodies have to go through detailed procedures before releasing the money and starting work.

"You've got to have bidding and you've got to have competitive bidding and you've got to do all the policies right," he said. "The bottom line is we have more construction going right now in Illinois than any other time in our state history."

The Capital Development Board serves as the state agency responsible for regulating the design, construction and renovation of the state's schools, universities, hospitals, prisons and office buildings.

Dave Blanchette, spokesman for the Capital Development Board, said all of the projects under the board's oversight are on schedule to begin construction before fall.

"All of the projects that were to be funded under Year 1 of the plan are being funded, and if they're not under way already, they will be under way in some form by Sept. 1," he said.

Some institutions have already secured contracts and started construction.

Southern Illinois University in Carbondale has contracted out $43.7 million of the $56.7 million set aside for a new transportation and education center.

Likewise, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has meted out $40.7 million to contractors out of the $57.3 million reserved for renovations to campus landmark Lincoln Hall.

But out of the almost 200 first-year projects that have funding reserved for this year, 46 projects are still in the introductory phases without a contracted architect or engineer.

Those projects without contracts as of yet include the $7.2 million in safety renovations for Choate Mental Health Center in southern Illinois and $4 million in construction work for a new Quad-Cities campus for Western Illinois University.

Blanchette said competitive bidding for a project's contract can only begin once the money for the project is secured.

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"As bonds are sold, then more funds can be released, the more projects can be bid. You don't bid all the projects at once, you bid them throughout the year as bonds are sold. So everything is absolutely on schedule," he said.

But the campaign for Quinn's GOP gubernatorial opponent Bill Brady believes projects should have been off and running already.

Patti Schuh, a spokesman for Brady, said the public works plan supported by both parties has been grounded by the Quinn administration.

"It's a continuing disappointment that points again to a failure in leadership," she said.

Quinn said he's doing his part to push the $31 billion public works plan.

"I'm investing public money. People want to invest in good roads and bridges in a proper way and we're getting the job done, so the notion that there's not a lot of construction going on in Illinois is not true," he said.

[Illinois Statehouse News; By KEVIN LEE]

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