Bloomington City Council to consider Hamilton Road extension study

Posted on October 25, 2015
The Bloomington City Council will consider a phase one study into the Hamilton Road extension project. (Photo courtesy City of Bloomington)
The Bloomington City Council will consider a phase one study into the Hamilton Road extension project. (Photo courtesy City of Bloomington)

By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – A $968,000 study is up for consideration at Monday night’s Bloomington City Council meeting. The study will look into the Hamilton Road extension project between Bunn Street and Commerce Parkway.

Ryan Otto with the city’s engineering department said Hanson Professional Services is being brought in for the study because of how complex it is.

“Bringing in Hanson, who has experience doing large-scale phase one studies like this for federal projects, helps us,” Otto said. “Our staffing levels are not at the level we would need to complete a project like this.”

Otto said the project has been a long time coming.

“Hamilton-Bunn is a complex project and that’s the reason why it’s taken so long,” Otto said. “We have to cross the Norfolk Southern railway line, which is an active service line. It carries freight right now and we’ve probably been in active discussions with them for 10-to-15 years.”

Otto said the study is needed to apply for certain state and federal grants. The actual project is expected to cost $10-$15 million with an at-grade crossing over a railroad. A bridged crossing over the railroad could make the project cost $25 million.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

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