A major resurfacing project planned for Cherry Street/Route 1 North in Mt. Carmel and Wabash County has been pushed back several years.
During Friday's Ask the Mayor program on WSJD, Mayor Joe Judge said the resurfacing of Cherry Street north from 9th Street, which had been expected to begin later this year or early next year, has now been moved to around 2030.
Judge said city officials met about the project within the past two weeks and were told it had been placed in the state's 2031 budget, meaning construction would likely take place in 2030.
According to Judge, the delay comes as the state redistributes transportation funding and downstate Illinois receives less Motor Fuel Tax revenue. He said the Illinois Department of Transportation's Effingham district is also dealing with reduced funding and has been forced to reprioritize planned road projects.
Judge cautioned that the schedule could change again, noting additional funding could allow the Cherry Street project to be moved up.
Meanwhile, another planned project at the intersection of 3rd and Cherry streets has also been delayed.
Judge said city crews have struggled to obtain concrete this summer because of the large number of construction projects underway in Illinois and Indiana.
Crews are currently working on the Park Road sidewalk project. Judge said the city had planned to move next to 3rd and Cherry, but has instead shifted its attention to another intersection project expected to begin in late August or early September.