©2011 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
| City: Proposed West Main Overpass Priority Number One |
It's not the one that's likely gotten the most attention lately, but Galesburg city officials say plans are moving ahead on one of three proposed overpasses in town.
The City held a public hearing Wednesday on the overpass proposed for the railroad tracks at West Main Street. City Engineer Wayne Carl says the first phase of engineering plans are currently being completed, with property acquisition and appraisals being worked on by October, with construction possibly beginning in August of next year.
A lot of attention has been given to an overpass proposed for the crossing at North Seminary Street, but Carl tells WGIL plans for the West Main overpass are much farther along, and the state's pending capital bill had something to do with it, too.
"North Seminary Street was being funded 60 percent by the Illinois Commerce Commission," Carl said. "So we had construction funding for most of the bridge costs. So that was our first project that we were going to do. By including West Main Street in the capital bill, and having the funding there, we're farther along in the engineering, because it was a simpler project. It's not all contained in a historic district. Seminary Street is all in a historic district, so there's more environmental red tape to work through. So we're about nine months behind (in that project)."
Carl says he believes the capital bill will still be funded and will still have money in it for the West Main overpass, but Mayor Sal Garza said he's not so sure.
Business owners at the public hearing had their own concerns about property acquisition in order to build the overpass. Among the properties that might have to be purchased: the Vista Lodge motel.
(City Engineer Wayne Carl, center, speaks with residents Wednesday about the proposed West Main Street overpass.)
(Residents look over plans for the proposed West Main Street overpass Wednesday. WGIL News Story and Photos by Will Stevenson.) |
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| 06 25 09 by Newsroom |
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