It’s been 20 years in the making, but leaders overseeing the Route 29 expansion say we’ll start seeing real movement this construction season.
Project 29 Co-Chair Mike Bell says 6.3 miles of the highway around Edinburg will be expanded to four lanes this year. It’s the last stretch of road between Springfield and Taylorville that isn’t four lanes.
“Not only is it certainly going to be an economic boon, but it’s going to be a much safer route,” Bell says.
The newly expanded highway will bypass Edinburg, but the existing road will remain in place. It’s unclear if it will turn into a business route or if the village will take over maintenance.
Bell says a truck stop will soon be built in Edinburg, bringing about three dozen full and part time jobs.
Dirt is already moving, with about half the distance of the total expansion already prepped for asphalt laying. Bell expects construction to be finished by this time next year.