Normal takes steps toward building underpass at Uptown Station

Posted on August 15, 2016

Adam Studzinski

NORMAL – The Town of Normal is beginning to move forward with creating a pedestrian underpass for the railroad at Uptown Station.

The Town Council will consider Monday night authorizing staff to negotiate a contract with engineering fairm Parsons Brinkerhoff for the project.

“What we’ll do then is start talking about their scope of work,” said Deputy City Manager Pamela Reece. “In about two months or so, we’ll come back with the final contract for the council to approve.”

In the meantime, the firm will begin surveying the area and start preparing construction designs. Reece said Normal isn’t yet sure how much the project will cost, but will have a better idea once the final contract is ready.

“IDOT and Union Pacific Railroad have been part of discussions moving from the original overpass design to now an underpass and we’re ready to move forward,” she said.

Normal has been working for about three years on building some kind of a pedestrian crossing for the tracks.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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