(Photo By Flickr User DDOT DC)

A section of Interstate 74 through downtown Peoria, IL has been named the "Ray Lahood Highway."

Lahood served as a U.S. Congressman and the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

According to cinewsnow.com, While in Congress, LaHood was a huge part of the I-74 upgrade project.

Lawmakers celebrated his accomplishments earlier this week, saying through his bi-partisan efforts he created numerous jobs and saved countless lives.

Governor Pat Quinn said,

"There are not Republican roads, there are no Democratic roads. There are American roads and Ray Lahood is our champion of roads, bridges, rail systems."

Ray Lahood said,

“While my name may be on the sign, all of the people who worked on this share the honor; When every other part of Central Illinois was hurting for jobs we came up with $400 million; We had great people at DOT (Department Of Transportation), we had great workers who built it and now we have one of the safest roadways in Central Illinois."

The new signs have been placed on I-74 westbound before the Murray Baker Bridge and eastbound before the Sterling Avenue exit.