Work to begin on gateway to Rochelle's industrial corridor

BusinessRockford.com

Work is starting on a long-awaited overpass on the south side of Rochelle that is expected to spur business expansion and bring hundreds of jobs.

The Steward Road overpass over several railroad tracks and an industrial truck route will be finished by next year. It’s being called the gateway to Rochelle’s industrial corridor because it will make more than 3,000 acres suitable for development.

“Today, one major obstacle to industrial development in rail-served areas is the lost time spent waiting for blocked railroad crossings to clear”, said Jason Anderson, the city’s economic development director. “This project will make access in to the industrial corridor safer and allow vehicles to move in and out of ProLogis Park without the inconvenience of waiting on trains.”

The $6.5 million project is funded by the state, county and city, as well as two railroad companies. The overpass is expected to carry more than 20,000 vehicles each day within the next 10 years.