Dixon submits grant application to build pedestrian bridge across river, extend bike path

DIXON – The city is making a third try for a federal transportation grant to fund a $12 million project to build a pedestrian bridge across the Rock River and extend the bike path.

The city recently submitted its application for a U.S. Department of Transportation's Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development, or BUILD grant, for Project Rock, the last phase in the city's riverfront master plan created 3 decades ago.

The project includes constructing a pedestrian bridge on the old Illinois Central Railroad piers, adding 2.8 miles of multiuse path, doing new sidewalks and crossings, and resurfacing Page Drive, which is maintained by the Park District.

City Manager Danny Langloss said they're excited about their chances this time around, as they've followed recommendations by grant reviewers to improve their application.

The city improved its application last year by including a benefit-cost analysis, which the city budgeted $10,000 for, and they launched a community survey earlier this month to show the level of interest and use the community would get out of the project.

They received 1,525 surveys, and about 95% of respondents were in favor of the project and said they would get use out of it, Langloss said.

"While there are no guarantees, the chances of this grant are more than a coin toss," he said.

There would be new trails and pathways in the wooded area of Page Park commonly used for the Reagan Run, as well as a new pedestrian pathway to the baseball fields and tennis courts, and improvements to Page Drive, the baseball field, parking, and the boat docks.

In 2016, the city received a $2.2 million grant from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program to extend the bike path about 1.6 miles, going east on River Road toward Raynor Garage Doors and west on River Road connecting up a ramp on the viaducts stretching to Seventh Street.

That project would be phase three of the riverfront master plan and has been on hold awaiting environmental cleanup at the former Dixon Iron and Metal Co. scrapyard along the river.

BUILD grants will be awarded in mid- to late-September.