City officials in Rochelle continue to move forward dealing with quiet zone improvements at 10 railroad crossings in the community. Nearly 100 trains travel through the Hub City each day which has resulted in a horn issue dealing with the quality of life for local residents.
The council approved a bid last night of just over $889,400 involving the project. City Engineer Sam Tesreau said that the work will include concrete raised medians, grading and excavation, along with storm sewer and drainage inlets and a gate system.
Tesreau said that no work will be done on the Steam Plant Road railroad crossing. He did stress that once completed, local residents will still hear train horns at certain times. An engineer can blow the horn in case of an emergency such as a vehicle or person on the railroad tracks.
It was a very expensive night for Rochelle officials as they approved several million dollars involving projects in the city. The list includes just under $998,500 for the above and below grade installation at the Caron Road substation expansion project and $98,670 for the pedestrian signals and sidewalk ramps at Route 38 and Lincoln Highway.
The 2 bids at the intersection came in 12 and 5 percent higher than expected. The work should be completed by the end of October. The price tag for sanitary sewer work for the new medical office building at Rochelle Community Hospital came in at just over $309,000. RCH is paying for the majority of the work.
A compactor excavator will be purchased for the Street and Cemetery Departments along with a security door involving the RMU generation facility.
Rochelle City Engineer Sam Tesreau