A package of short-term spending measures, HB190, was signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn Thursday, giving Illinois road construction a $675 million boost this spring.

The $1.5 billion supplemental spending bill also includes $12 million to restore community mental health program grants that were cut from last year's budget and $9 million to keep the long-troubled East St. Louis public schools district, with 6,500 students, open through the end of the year.

With road construction season rapidly approaching, Quinn signed the bill into law just hours after the Senate approved it. Republicans complained the bill did not receive enough input from taxpayers before it was rushed through.

“The projects are going to be let in March, so we had to move expeditiously to make sure we move forward on them and get them built,” said State Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge), who sponsored the bill.