The Southwest Connector
A proposed rural 4 lane expressway, created via the expansion of Illinois Routes 127 - 154 and 3 from Carbondale to St. Louis Missouri.
Senator Richard Durbin took to the Senate Floor to advocate for funding for the Southwest Connector on June 12th 2023. Senator Durbin's efforts helped to secure 3 million dollars for the Southwest
Connector. Thank you Senator Durbin!
Congressman Mike Bost took to the House Floor May 10th, 2023 to advocate for the Southwest Connector. We appreciate Congressman Bost's Support!
A project 60 years in the making.
"The Southwest Connector is the difference
maker for Southern Illinois."
- Congressman Mike Bost - 2023
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"We need a superhighway connecting Carbondale to St. Louis."
- Former Congressman Ken Gray - 1984
Improving Safety
The Southwest Illinois Connector Highway project includes 5 different sections that the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) reported to the Federal Highway Administration as being in the top 5% of two-lane highways in Illinois with the most fatal and serious injury crashes.
Upgrading the existing Highways to a four-lane expressway would increase safety, comfort, and ease of operation provided by separation of the northbound and southbound traffic lanes. This separation, along with other roadway improvements, should eliminate most head-on collisions, fixed objects, and sight distance problems associated with existing roadway deficiencies, such as no-passing zones.
Governor Pritzker Supports the Southwest Connector
Illinois House Speaker Emmanuel Welch supports the Southwest Connector.
ENDORSEMENTS
Governor J.B. Pritzker
Illinois Speaker Emmanuel Chris Welch
Senator Richard Durbin
Senator Tammy Duckworth
Congressman Mike Bost
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski
Comptroller Susana Mendoza
Treasurer Michael Frerichs
State Senator Terri Bryant
State Senator Dale Fowler
State Senator Christopher Belt
State Representative Jay Hoffman
State Representative David Friess
State Representative Paul Jacobs
State Representative Dave Severin
State Representative Patrick Windhorst
Former Congressman Glenn Poshard
Laborers International 773
Associated Firefighters of Illinois
Jackson County Branch NAACP
Illinois Manufacturers Association
Illinois Municipal League
Southern Illinois Airport Authority
St. Louis Cardinals
Greater Saint Louis Chamber of Commerce
St. Louis Regional Freight-way
Kaskaskia Regional Port District
Carbondale Chamber of Commerce
Coulterville Chamber of Commerce
Murphysboro Chamber of Commerce
City of Red Bud
City of Sparta
City of Murphysboro
City of Carbondale
City of Marion
City of Chester
City of DuQuoin
Village of Evansville
Village of Ellis Grove
Village of Prairie Du Rocher
Village of Baldwin
Village of Steelevile
Village of Percy
Southwestern Illinois Council of Mayors
Perry County Board
Jackson County Board
Monroe County Board
Randolph County Board
Southern Illinois Healthcare
SI Now
Illinois Retail Merchants Association
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southwestern Illinois College
John A. Logan College
Penn Aluminum
Ameren Illinois
FOP Lodge 156
COMPAC International
17th Street BBQ
First Southern Bank
SAMRON Midwest Contracting
Total Titanium Inc
Southwestern Illinois Planning Commission
Walkers Bluff Casino
E.T. Simonds Construction
Bost Truck Service
IMO's Pizza
Silkworm Inc
Striking Designs LLC
Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar
Egyptian Electric Cooperative
Randolph County Progress Committee
Randolph County Community Foundation
Sparta Community Hospital
Red Bud Regional Hospital
Memorial Hospital of Chester
Admiral Parkway Inc
SECON Rubber and Plastics Inc
The Material Works LTD
Flexline Automation
Country Comfort Solutions LLC
Amateur Trapshooting Association
Murphysboro Apple Festival
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