Staff Report

Rockford aldermen will meet from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 12, in the second-floor conference room at Rockford City Hall to review the 2013-2017 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). A follow-up meeting is scheduled for 5:30-7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 13.

The meetings were called by Rockford Ald. Carl Wasco (D-4), chairman of the Finance & Personnel Committee.

The CIP builds on past CIPs in that it involves the bulk of the construction for the “Big Four” projects that have been under development over the last decade. The projects include the Morgan Street Bridge project; the South Main Street Corridor (Cedar to Pond and Klehm Arboretum to Beltline), with construction expected throughout 2013 and 2014; the West State Street Corridor (Kent Creek to Sunset), scheduled for a March 2013 IDOT letting, and construction in 2013 and 2014; and the North Main and Auburn Roundabout, scheduled for a March 2013 letting and construction throughout 2013.

Other highlights of the 2013 program include the resurfacing of Landstrom Road and 20th Street (Harrison to Sandy Hollow), and extensive Neighborhood Program and continued work on design for the Whitman Interchange Re-Configuration and Downtown, West-Side One-Way Pair Conversion to Two-Way (Illinois Route 2).

This year’s program will also include the leveraging of significant state, federal and local funds to undertake the reconstruction of an eastern Airport Access via Airport Drive and the reconstruction of Falcon Road on the east side of the airport.

The rehabilitation of Blackhawk Park Boulevard and Seminary Street, in the heart of the city’s southeast side industrial sector, is also included in the plan.

Two additional programs are included in this year’s plan: City-wide reforestation efforts to combat the effects of the Emerald Ash Borer; and funding for a new parking deck on the west side of the downtown core to offset the loss in parking as the result of the aging of the existing concourse parking deck.

Other significant projects included in the program include the re-development of the Ingersoll facility into a sports complex; the design work to construct a new multi-modal transportation facility (train station); and the development of an Indoor City Market to complement the success of the current Outdoor Market and Friday Night Flix.

From the Dec. 12-18, 2012, issue