The updated tentative price to build the Uptown underpass project in the Town of Normal is about $33.7 million. Public Works and Engineering Director Ryan Otto confirmed that is a “draft number” submitted recently by Peoria-based construction firm PJ Hoerr, which has an office in Normal.
"We anticipate that's going to change, depending on where some of their requests land on some of their scoping changes and things like that," said Otto. "We're not sure where FRA [Federal Railroad Administration] is going to land but we are in active negotiations with PJ Hoerr—and the Union Pacific railroad is also involved. We just don't know whether that's going to be the number or not."
The town had asked PJ Hoerr to refresh its previous unsuccessful bid when the winning bidder, Millstone-Weber, pulled out of the project and said it could not meet the requirements and construction timeline.
The project would build a walkway under the train tracks in Uptown to improve passenger boarding access to both sides of the tracks. It would also provide an event space and improve flow on the Constitution Trail. Town officials have also made the case that making Uptown South more walkable and connected to amenities in Uptown could stimulate development south of the tracks.
In November, the town council narrowly approved a $32 million construction cost and a financing plan that included $12 million in bond debt. Council members agreed to pay for the project by increasing the rate for the hotel-motel tax from 6% to 8%, and the food and beverage tax from 2% to 2.25%. A sunset provision would lower the rates to previous levels in 2051. Both increases are scheduled to take effect April 1.
That had come to the council without a lot of public discussion because of concerns about meeting a September 2027 federal grant deadline to finish the project.
Otto said the FRA has remained firm about the September 2027 completion date.
"That date is consistent and is just a requirement of the BUILD grant that we got," said Otto.
The grant is $13 million.
"Obviously every day that goes by the project gets tougher to deliver in the time frame that we need," said Otto. "The time constraint now is working with UP on some of the scope changes that PJ is proposing and see if we can get them to approve it."
The town hopes to bring the project back to the town council next month.
"All parties are engaged, and we are working to have those conversations that we need to move the project along," said Otto.
