The Southwest Illinois Connector Task Force recently released their final recommendations.
The Task Force was created by a resolution introduced by State Senator Paul Schimpf to study the cost, feasibility, and environmental impact of a proposed four-lane divided highway between Waterloo and Murphysboro.
The task force is made up of representatives from business, labor, education, state and local officials, and the Kaskaskia Regional Port District.
The group looked at the short and long term economic impact to the region, and all options for funding the project.
The lengthy report goes on to detail each aspect of why this Southwest Illinois Connector is important to our area.
In addition, the report notes that the idea of an expressway to connect the St. Louis area to Murphysboro and Carbondale through southwest Illinois has been a topic of discussion for around 50 years.
For more information, please see this week’s print edition.