Normal Town Council sets pedestrian bridge project construction in motion

Image taken by Bella Marello

NORMAL, Ill. – Normal Town Council approved the start of a pedestrian bridge project construction on Linden Street during their meeting Tuesday.

The resolution to accept bids and award the construction contract to Stark Excavating was approved unanimously.

Council Member Karyn Smith asked how traffic on Linden Street will be handled while the construction is underway.

City Manager Pamela Reece said traffic will be rerouted during the construction phase from Grandview to Jersey, then to Virginia and then to the Camelback Bridge, a wooden bridge carrying Virginia Avenue over Constitution Trail.

“It will be an inconvenience during the construction phase, but the end result will be a much better, nicer bridge, and hopefully worth the wait,” Reece said.

In addition, Reece said the Town of Normal will have the reroute posted on social media, Normal’s newsletter, Normal’s website and physically posted for trail users.

The new bridge is designed to carry not just pedestrians and bikes, but also some park maintenance vehicles.

“The new bridge will be able to take that kind of traffic, but park maintenance typically now is using smaller vehicles along the trail for their maintenance efforts,” Reece said.

The contract is set for a total cost of $1,192,085.49.

During the meeting, Normal Town Council also authorized their yearly execution of a fire protection services agreement with Illinois State University and established a time and place for a Business 51 and Raab Road tax increment finance district redevelopment plan and project area public hearing.

The Normal Town Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. Its next meeting is scheduled for April 20 at 7 p.m. at Normal City Hall.