Update On New Federal Courthouse Being Built In Rockford

(Rockford, Illinois) Dick Durbin, the United States Senator from Illinois says a new Federal Courthouse will be built in downtown Rockford, and indicated construction could begin in the near future. During a phone interview with WTVO the long time Senator stated, "The good news is were going forward. The engineering and planning that is necessary is going to go forward. The construction may take a few months longer but we are going to get that new courthouse." U.S. Federal Judge Phil Reinhard who works at the current Rockford facility says starting construction on the new courthouse would save taxpayers money and adds, "Of course every year it is delayed. We expected to start construction by 2000. The costs go up every year with the costs of steel and concrete increasing." Judge Reinhard adds that the main reasons for building a new Federal Courthouse is the need for improved security and a lack of space in the current facility due to increased work loads in the courts. The current Rockford Federal Courthouse was built in 1977.