By Heart of Illinois ABC
NORMAL – The Town of Normal has been given the go-ahead to apply for a $5 million state grant to repair a major west side road serving Rivian Automotive.
That’s the maximum amount that can be awarded through the Rebuild Illinois public infrastructure program. To receive the money, the Normal Town Council voted unanimously Monday night to earmark for the project almost $1.3 million dollars of local motor fuel tax funds.
The remaining $3.1 million for the $9.35 million West College Avenue reconstruction would come from federal surface transportation funds, according to the town’s staff.
A special meeting was required Monday night because the state’s grant application deadline comes before the next regularly scheduled council meeting.
Council member Kevin McCarthy said he’s more than willing to “commit a little bit of dollars to get a bunch more” to rebuild West College, from Rivian Motorway to White Oak Road.
McCarthy noted Rivian is investing millions of dollars in the former Mitsubishi Motors plant, has hired hundreds of people so far, eventually reaching about 1,000 workers to build electric SUV’s and pick-up trucks.
“This is the single-largest economic development project that we’ve seen in the Town of Normal in decades,” McCarthy said.
Questions posed by Council member Stan Nord led to a heated discussion with Mayor Chris Koos about plans to extend the Constitution Trail, the Twin-Cities’ hiking and biking path. Nord expressed concern about the cost if town officials believe the trail extension might require an overpass or underpass to cross railroad tracks in the area.
“We’re not designing this project tonight. We’re applying for a grant,” said Koos.
“There’s plenty of time going forward to talk about this,” said Koos, who later apologized for his adversarial tone.
Council member Kathleen Lorenz urged Nord not to bury the headline from Monday night’s meeting.
“This is about fixing a road, a much-needed fix to a road, an important road,” said Lorenz.
At the end of the council’s discussion, Nord said, “this is a project that is much needed.
Design work and public comment are planned over the next two years. Construction would begin in the summer of 2022.
WJBC News can be reached at [email protected].
