A recent state investment into local infrastructure looks to repair and improve the streets of Illinois, including some in Champaign County.

Gov. Pat Quinn announced a $100 million capital investment distributed to municipalities, countries and road districts, $2.5 million of which the Illinois Department of Transportation said would go to Champaign County. The money is part of a program called Illinois Jobs Now!, a law passed last year.

What the various towns and departments will do with the money depends on their needs, said Josh Kauffman, Illinois Department of Transportation spokesman. He said the funds are intended to improve public safety and create long-term and temporary jobs. Most projects are expected to be repairing streets, bridges and bike paths.

“This work will improve the infrastructure all over Illinois,” Kauffman said. “The goal is to fulfill and help local transportation needs.”

The Champaign County Highway Department will use its share of the funds to improve county roads, said Jeff Blue, county engineer for the department. County roads can be identified by blue signs posted on them.

Blue said the department’s main focus will be continuing work on County Road 11, which runs from Thomasboro to Gifford. He said the project will benefit from the investment, as the County Road 11 project is in the $3 million range and any funds available will help lower the cost.

“It helps extend our project a couple of miles,” he said.

Bill Gray, director for the Urbana Public Works Department, said Urbana’s focus will mostly be on roadwork too. Urbana’s share of the $100 million investment comes to around $170,000.

“For road repair, it will specifically help us with the concrete removal and replacement work on Windsor Road between Philo Road and Race Street,” he said.

Gray also added that more jobs will be available due to the construction.

“The money we’re receiving from the state is a positive thing,” Gray said. “It will help provide temporary jobs for construction companies and it will certainly help us with maintaining our streets and roads.”

What the city of Champaign is doing with its share will have to wait until the winter, said Stacy Rachel, administrative services supervisor for the Champaign Public Works Department.

Champaign is receiving $326,000 from the Illinois Jobs Now! program. However, construction season is ending soon due to the incoming winter weather. She said she has talked to some of the city engineers and they said no decisions will be made until winter meetings take place.

“We haven’t gotten to any internal developments regarding this money and where it will be allocated,” she said.

Rachel added that she does believe most of the funds, which are expected to arrive next month, will be used on maintenance projects. There is no word, though, on any specific concerns the city is looking into.