Construction crews are putting the finishing touches on the bike path extension just in time for the summer season.
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
ROCHELLE — Construction crews are putting the finishing touches on the bike path extension just in time for the summer season.
The newest leg of the bike path, at a cost just shy of $1 million, extends from 20th Street west to Beebe Drive in the Highland Estates subdivision. Thanks to an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program grant, the Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District received nearly $600,000 toward the extension.
The cost to the park district came in at $360,000 for the 1.6 mile project.
Park district executive director Roger Bunger said the project has been in the works for over five years, starting with land purchases and obtaining easements from farmland owners during the building process.
Last fall construction began on the underlayment base, which is about 10 inches thick. Crews began nearly a month ago with bridgework and the final asphalt was completed just a few days ago.
Bunger said although it is not “officially” opened, it is usable.
“The crews are finishing with the landscaping, and the painting of the crosswalk should be done soon,” Bunger said. “We are projecting at the beginning of next week, everything will be completed.”
Bunger added they will have an official opening and intend to acknowledge the key people involved in this process, including Greg Query who wrote the grant for the funding. Park district officials are also discussing future bike path extensions, but projects of that magnitude are at least five years out. Funding for a large project is also a big part.
“We know that out of all of our parks and facilities, the bike path is the most used. Warm, cold, it doesn’t make a difference,” Bunger said. “We are always looking...The idea is it would be nice if we could connect all of our parks. We also would like to try and get out to Lake Sule.”
