Illinois used $1.1 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars and $77 million in regular federal-aid highway funding for this project. It is considered the largest infrastructure project in the history of Kane County. The new corridor extends from Randall Road to Stearns Road and includes a 1,100-foot-long span over the Fox River.

"This project provides a new connection that will reduce transportation time for many people," Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez said in a statement. "The project was also designed and built to have the least impact on people, wetlands, and wildlife."

With two 12-foot lanes in each direction separated by a median, the five-mile Stearns Road and new Fox River Bridge establish an east/west traffic corridor linking Illinois 59 with Randall Road. Drivers now have a new way to cross the Fox River between Illinois 64 in downtown St. Charles and State Street in South Elgin.

The bridge corridor also includes 216 acres of new open space, restored native prairie, and improved public access such as seven miles of new trail and a new bridge for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross the Fox River.

Illinois received $937 million from the recovery act for 820 highway and bridge projects. Of those, 391 projects are underway and 394 are completed.