Rock Cut about to receive road, parking and bicycle upgrades: Stadelman

The construction work also requires closing the bridge over Interstate 90 to Olson Beach, but the beach area will be open from the Harlem Road entrance. Trails that lead to the construction area will be blocked off to ensure the safety of hikers and bicyclists.

 

Barricades and signage will alert visitors to the closures and warn them of fines of $195 for violating the barricades. The map below indicates road (light green) and trail (red) closures.

 

 

Stadelman: $100,000 in state funds headed to Rockford, Belvidere for lead pipe replacement

State Senator Steve Stadelman announced this week that 48 communities across Illinois that need to replace lead water lines are receiving state grants, including $50,000 for Rockford and $50,000 for Belvidere.

"These funds will help communities identify the problems in their water systems and provide the knowledge of what needs to be fixed first,” Stadelman said. “communities can figure out which residents may be more at risk and act to fix the lines that are most potentially dangerous.”

Illinois' Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act requires owners and operators of community water supplies to submit a complete water service line material inventory for approval by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency no later than April 15, 2024. The complete inventory must report the composition of all service lines within the community's water distribution system.

“Clean drinking water is a basic right that all humans need to live," Stadelman said. "With these funds, we will ensure that our communities have the knowledge and ability to repair and replace these water lines.” 

IEPA conducted a review of all grant applications to determine priority and will fund 48 projects for a total of $2,000,000. Of the 48 funded projects, 40 are in areas with environmental justice concerns. The Lead Service Line Inventory Grant Program uses IEPA Public Water Supply Loan Program funding generated from loan repayments.

Another funding opportunity is expected in the coming weeks. Additional information on the program is available on the IEPA website.