June 2020 Subscribe online now! www.ibjonline.com Illinois Business Journal Page 7 Freightway chases priority projects on both sides of river The St. Louis Regional Freightway has Drive) from Illinois Route 161 to Illinois Co., Inc. in O’Fallon, Mo. “We must our list move forward and contribute to announced its 2021 Priority Projects List, Route 177, a project that jumped from the continue to deliver ease of movement, the enhancement of our region’s freight providing a glimpse into what local leaders concept and planning phase on the 2020 list low congestion and quick access to major network.” see as the key infrastructure needs of the to currently under construction as refl ected roadways and waterways. The St. Louis Ryan Krull, sales manager for Watco manufacturing and logistics industries in the on the 2021 list. region remains primed to take its place as a Companies, L.L.C., a leading transportation Eastern and Southwestern Illinois Looking to the projects partially global hub for logistics and the movement and supply chain logistics company area. programmed for construction, nearly $600 of goods throughout the United States and with operations in the St. Louis region, The list includes 21 projects representing million in funding has been approved for the internationally. This list of projects goes a underscored the signifi cance of these efforts a total investment of $2.2 billion, with half Interstate 270 corridor improvements in north long way toward achievement of that goal.” for his business and others. that amount covering infrastructure projects St. Louis County in Missouri and Madison According to the U.S. Census Bureau “The list of current and future that are already under construction or funded County in Illinois, including the Chain of Economic Census, freight-based industries infrastructure projects occurring across the and expected to get underway, some as early Rocks Bridge replacement connecting the represent more than 75 percent of the total bistate St. Louis region will not only allow as this year. The list indicates tremendous two states. economic output in the St. Louis MSA. freight to move more safely through the progress is being made on nearly two dozen Also moving up on the list are Located at the confl uence of three navigable region, but also enable strategic advantages projects that will strengthen critical roads, improvement projects on Interstate 70 rivers, the border between the east and west for companies looking to reduce costs bridges, rail infrastructure and port and from Wentzville to Stan Musial Veteran’s coast railroads, and with its four interstate and run leaner supply chains. Once these airport facilities across the bistate St. Louis Memorial Bridge, a trend industry experts highways and four interstate linkages, the projects are completed, these improvements region. were pleased to see. St. Louis region’s central location and robust will benefi t not only the companies located “The Priority Projects List is a valuable Branding who represents owners, investors, infrastructure afford many advantages for in the bistate region, but companies tool used by the St. Louis Regional corporations, developers and others in their shippers and contribute to the region being throughout North America that use the St. Freightway to align and amplify advocacy for real estate transactions, is also a national one of the largest inland freight hubs in Louis region as a corridor for moving their support and funding for critical infrastructure director and offi cer of JLL and a member the nation. Mary Lamie, executive vice freight. Kudos to everyone involved in improvements,” said Asim Raza, chief legal of the Supply Chain & Logistics Solutions president of Multi Modal Enterprises at the St. Louis Regional Freightway for the offi cer and director of Corporate Affairs Team. It is a dual role that gives him a Bi-State Development, which oversees the continued success in improving our freight for the Terminal Railroad Association unique perspective on the importance of St. Louis Regional Freightway as one of its infrastructure.” of St. Louis and interim chairman of infrastructure investment. enterprises, commented on the role the list The list of 2021 Priority Projects is shown the Freightway’s Freight Development “The I-70 reconstruction and expansion plays as the Freightway works to grow the on this page. More details on each of these Committee. “The ongoing regional effort between Kansas City and St. Louis is a $6 billion in goods moving through the St. projects and the various parties involved to compile and build consensus for this game changer,” said Branding. “The St. Louis area by road, rail, river and runway. in compiling the 2021 Priority Projects list remains a key accomplishment of the Louis region is a distribution metro, and “This type of progress doesn’t happen list can be found at https://freightweekstl. organization and plays a vital role in helping distribution relies on trucks and those overnight,” said Lamie. “We continually thefreightway.com/may-21-2020/. The 2021 to ensure various parties are familiar with trucks rely on the smooth, safe movement invest the time and effort and lay the Priority Projects List will be submitted to the the priorities before they see them on a of freight. Chicago is a big competitor and foundation to make sure that all necessary East-West Gateway Council of Governments grant application. This list emphasizes how is fed by two major east-west interstates, parties are familiar with our priorities and for approval later this year. Comments stakeholders on both sides of the Mississippi I-80 and I-90. If we are going to remain understand why they are priorities, so they regarding the 2021 list are welcome River can work together for the benefi t of the relevant and competitive, we have to have can advocate for funding for them. It’s through Aug. 15 by email at MCLamie@ entire St. Louis region.” good connections on I-70. It is our major tremendous validation to see projects on TheFreightway.com. Among the priority projects funded and east-west corridor. That project is crucial to under construction are the $222 million the region and will be a big part of our future project to replace the , a successes.” St. Louis Regional Freightway 2021 Priority Projects List vital rail artery across the New to the list of priorities for 2021 are Project titles in bold indicate the St. Louis Route 157 (MO-IL) and one of the nation’s primary east-west rail improvements along Interstate 55 in Jefferson Regional Freightway’s highest priority projects • Chain of Rocks Bridge Replacement (MO- corridors serving the nation’s third largest rail County to support heavy truck movement Projects listed with ** are identifi ed as high IL) $223M Funded hub and the $42 million Interstate 255/Davis and existing and future port operations, and priority sections for the 2021 list • Mississippi River to West of Illinois Route 203 (IL) $84.5M Funded Street Ferry Road Interchange in St. Clair a Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis Advanced to Construction (Funded) • I-70 on the West to West of Riverview Drive County in Illinois. That project was elevated dewatering project in front of the Gateway Merchants Bridge (TRRA) Replacement over (MO) $275M Funded to one of the Freightway’s highest priority Arch National Park to help ensure that freight the Mississippi River (MO-IL) $222M I-70 Improvements from Wentzville to Stan projects last winter based on the growing and passenger rail traffi c can continue to I-255 / Davis Street Ferry Road Interchange Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge (MO) $650M importance of Union Pacifi c’s intermodal operate during major fl ood events. (IL) $42M • I-70 Outer Roads from Fairgrounds Road yard in Dupo, Illinois, and the role the new The Priority Projects List is compiled Union Pacifi c Railroad Lenox Tower to Cave Springs Road (MO)** $35.4M Partially interchange will play in facilitating growth annually by the St. Louis Regional Replacement and Track Realignment (IL) $9M Funded (completed) there by reducing travel times and lowering Freightway’s Freight Development • Improvements to the I-70 Curve and Norfolk transportation costs. The importance of this Committee, which is a nationally recognized Earth City Access Improvements (MO) $4M Southern Railroad Bridge (MO)** J.S. McDonnell Connector Access project was reinforced by David Branding, model of partnership and productive • Improvements to the I-70 / I-64 Interchange Improvements (MO) $20.7M managing director for the St. Louis offi ce collaboration between the public and (MO)** I-64 Improvements from Green Mount Road to of Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) and head of private sector across the eight-county area St. Louis Lambert International Airport North Illinois Route 158 (Air Mobility Drive) (IL) $32M Cargo Improvements (MO) $18.2M the company’s St. Louis industrial practice, the St. Louis Regional Freightway serves North Park Access Improvements (MO) $3M who participated in FreightWeekSTL and has driven the success in regional Illinois Route 158 (Air Mobility Drive) Expansion Concept Development or Planning 2020 this past month. He noted that the project prioritization. Business and industry from Route 161 to Route 177 (IL) $20M I-255 / Fish Lake (Ramsey Road) Interchange further development of the intermodal yard leaders work directly with local and state (IL) $27M could help the St. Louis region to better offi cials and DOT’s to set infrastructure Partially Programmed for Construction Mississippi River Port Development Projects compete with other Midwest cities that may priorities by helping them to understand how North Riverfront Commerce Corridor (MO) $37.5M currently have an advantage with an existing infrastructure and effi ciency impacts on-time Improvements (MO) $33.7M I-55 Improvements from Route Z to U.S. Route Illinois Route 3 Access Improvements (IL) intermodal yard. delivery and costs. 67 (MO) $213M $121.4M Funded TRRA Tunnel-Arch Riverfront Dewatering (MO) Other projects currently underway range “It goes without saying that continued America’s Central Port Intermodal $8M from $20.7 million in improvements for infrastructure development is key to Improvements (IL) $21.3M MidAmerica St. Louis Airport Distribution the J.S. McDonnell Connector Access continued regional recognition and economic Kaskaskia Regional Port District Improvements Improvements (IL) $45M Improvements in Missouri to the $20 million growth,” said Chester Jones, Supply (IL) $40M St. Louis Lambert International Airport Access expansion of Illinois Route 158 (Air Mobility Chain Operations for True Manufacturing I-270 Improvements from I-70 (MO) to Illinois Improvements (MO) $30.3M

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