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Illinois road, bridge maintenance funding looks bleak

Peoria Public Radio

Illinois' investment in maintaining roads and bridges drops dramatically in the coming year under a plan Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration released Thursday. 

The Illinois Department of Transportation warns that without new revenue, the mileage of acceptable highways in Illinois could drop from 83% today to 62% by 2021. 

The 5-year road plan released by the Illinois Department of Transportation shows a sharp drop off in spending on roads and bridges in the budget year that begins July 1. 

The state plans to spend $1.85 billion next year. But the 5-year total is $8.4 billion- which means annual spending could fall as low as $1.4 billion. 

Rauner and lawmakers face a deficit of as much as $6 billion next year.