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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 15, 2017
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Contact: Michael J. Sturino, President & CEO
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(ITASCA)--The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) issued official 'Stop Work' notices to Illinois construction and consulting firms this week for hundreds of active contracts. The notices informed that IDOT is shutting down all work on all projects, effective June 30, 2017, due to the lack of a State budget for the upcoming Fiscal Year.
Notices also included information on the proper shutdown procedures that contractors and engineers are required to take in preparation for the shutdown, including safety and traffic control procedures, erosion and sediment controls, environmental stabilization, relocation of idled equipment, and removal of all construction debris. The work stoppage also includes all phases of consultant contracts.
"The impacts of a shutdown are dire," said Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association (IRTBA) President & CEO Mike Sturino. "
According to the Transportation for Illinois Coalitio
n
, the daily costs of a shutdown exceed $3 million
just for direct costs associated with shutting a job down," he added
.
"
IRTBA member firms report
that
layoffs of thousands of
Chicago area residents
are imminent.
Organized labor
is reporting approximately 30,000 people will be out of work
statewide if this shutdown happens
.
"
"Last year, under similar conditions, Republicans and Democrats in Springfield came together at the eleventh hour and passed a comprehensive budget package on the last day of the fiscal year," said IRTBA Chairman of the Board David Rock. He added, "It is our hope legislators can come together once again and find a solution to keep projects going for the construction and engineering communities, and for the men and women who build and maintain our transportation network. Finding a way forward will also have the benefit of avoiding sticking taxpayers with the added, unnecessary costs that would be required to stabilize projects in the event of a shutdown."
Governor Bruce Rauner has called lawmakers back to Springfield for a 10-day special session, beginning June 21.
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