The Town of Normal will hold an open house on Monday, Sept. 11, to share information and gather community input about a proposed extension to Constitution Trail.
The open house will be held from 5-7 p.m. at city hall at Uptown Station, room 409. Representatives from the town and the consulting engineer firm, Hutchinson Engineering, will be present to detail project plans, answer questions and gather public feedback.
The extension would add just over one mile to the Collegiate Branch of the trail and will run along the north side of Gregory Street between Adelaide Street and Maxwell Park (Parkside Road).
“That will link in pedestrian facilities for Maxwell Park, Parkside Junior High School, Parkside Elementary, Normal West (High School) and there’s a lot of different facilities that will be eventually served,” said Town of Normal Public Works Director Ryan Otto.
The project is estimated to cost $1.2 million, Otto said. The Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) is funding the project, along with nearly 100 other projects across the state that are intended to expand travel options and enhance quality of life. The money will be used for the necessary groundwork and material for the project, Otto said.
One of the biggest benefits of a project like this, he said, is the access the path provides for pedestrians, noting Maxwell Park, Parkside Elementary, Parkside Junior High and Normal West high school would all have an increased access to safer foot traffic. The path would benefit Illinois State University as well, he said, providing access to several athletic facilities in northwest Normal.
The planned construction for the path is partially located on ISU property.
“I think it’s a neat project for ISU as well,” Otto said.
He said the trail expansion is scheduled for completion in 2025, but further expansions are planned. He said the town’s eventual plan is to extend the path through Maxwell Park and further west toward Rivian Motorway.
