Progress on Marion overpass project

Progress on Marion overpass project

Envionmental review cleared, design phase more than halfway completed

news@theeveningtimes.com

A proposed railroad overpass has cleared all environmental review hurdles and is now in the 60 percent design review phase.

But despite that positive forward progress, Mayor Frank Fogleman said the state likely won’t begin construction until 2019.

“We’re not where they forecast we would be when we got the affirmative vote on the bond,” Fogleman said. “Its been 19 months and they suggested 16 to 18 months. But to get 60 percent is progress. I understand for the public until you actually see dirt being moved and concrete being poured that it looks like nothing is being done. But that’s not the case.”

The overpass will most likely be built next to the Walmart Neighborhood Grocery from L.H. Polk and Hwy. 77 to Military Road and is expected to cost about $11 to $12 million.

The federal government earmarked $5 million for the project. Marion voters approved refinancing some old municipal bonds which will generate $12 million for street improvements — $10 million of which will be used for the overpass.

Fogleman said about $1.7 million of the $5 million earmarked has been made available. The other $3 million is an 80-20 federal city local match which will come from the bond money.

“We’ve spent about $800,000 of that $1.7 million they gave us for the environmental plans,” Fogleman said. “We haven’t used it all up.”

Councilmen Don Hanks and Bryan Jackson said res- idents have been asking them about the status of the much needed project.

“There was a train stopped for over an hour the other night,” Hanks said at the Sept. 24 council meeting.

“People had to go over by the dog track to get over to this side of town.”

The Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks split Marion roughly in half and results in numerous traffic delays. About 30 trains a day pass over the track and produce traffic snarls for residents who live on the east side of the tracks which has seen significant residential growth.

The overpass will eliminate the problem of trains blocking the railroad crossing and also alleviate public safety concerns by improving emergency response times and providing a safer route for school busses.

City Planner Ed Cain said getting the environmental plan approved was a big milestone because that sets the general alignment of the road. Once the state highway approves the 60 percent design, they will then incorporate the public comments into the third set of plans and move on to a 90 percent design review and hold another public hearing.

“At some point there will be another design meeting,” Cain said. “At that point, after the 60 percent plan is approved, then they can get started on the right of way to be acquired.”

The project was supposed to be ready to bid in August, but the state has moved it to 2019.

Fogleman said he has not been given an updated timeline.

“We’re trying to get that out of them,” Fogleman said. “But when the highway department is going to act, it is impossible to forecast. That’s not much of an answer. But I guess 60 percent is an improvement.”

By Mark Randall