Nine miles of a Route 66 bicycle trail in McLean County, Illinois, will be completed with a state transportation grant, at the request of Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
The $1.875 million grant will help pay for engineering and environmental reviews, along with design plans and specifications for the trail, reported WMBD.
The grant replaces $675,000 in funding yanked by the federal government last month that had been awarded last year.
McLean County Board Member Lea Cline said the county is “particularly honored that this project was selected for support” during the board meeting Thursday night.
“We are deeply appreciative to the support of IDOT and Governor Pritzker’s office for this important project, which promotes active transportation safety and rural economic development along historic Route 66,” Cline said.
“While this new grant moves us forward, we also hope that our federal partners will continue to explore ways to help fund the final construction phases of this trail by seeking funding to replace the grant rescinded last month by the federal government,” she continued.
The Village of Dwight also received a $1.3 million state grant for its own Route 66 bicycle path. Girard received $1.075 million to resurface old Route 66.
(Image of a bicycle crossing over a Route 66 shield painted on a road)