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Stretch of north Hershey Road to open
By Mary Ann Ford
mford@pantagraph.com
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NORMAL — While road construction continues to abound in the Twin Cities, one long-awaited project is finally in the finishing stages.

Hershey Road between Fort Jesse and Shepard roads could open by Monday, if weather allows striping work to finish and crews to install necessary roadway signs.

The completion not only will give drivers another route to such businesses as Menard’s and Sam’s Club, it also will allow another nearby project to get started.

Town engineer Gene Brown said work to extend Shepard Road east of Hershey to Eagles Landing subdivision is expected to start by mid-month and should be completed within two months.

Like the Hershey Road widening project, the extension of Shepard Road was on hold for years because of an eminent-domain trial regarding right-of-way for the projects. That issue was finally resolved, allowing the Hershey Road work to begin earlier this year.

The plan to widen Hershey Road and build a new intersection at Shepard Road had been on the town’s “to do” list for six years. The end of the road was closed for nearly a year because it was in such poor condition.

Rowe Construction Co. completed the Hershey Road project for a bid of $1,287,919 and was low bidder for the Shepard Road project at $511,242, 9 percent over the engineer’s estimate.

Once the Shepard extension is completed, Eagles Landing and other Twin City residents will be able to take Shepard from Airport Road to Hershey and onto Veterans Parkway.

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Reader comments on this story - 10 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

One day... wrote on Sep 7, 2007 10:05 PM:

" the lameness from the Normal City Council will give the okay to begin putting a stop light at the corner of Towanda and Shelbourne. I know it has nothing to do with lack of funds since I pay up the rear with my property taxes along with other residents. "

shucks wrote on Sep 7, 2007 11:24 AM:

" That was a good place to test the 4-wheel drive "

E wrote on Sep 7, 2007 11:13 AM:

" I live in Eagle's Landing and this will be great. Right now, the only way to get to and from the neighborhood is Airport Road either at Shepherd before Grove Elementary or Raab Road. Lots of people in our neighborhood going home as well as NCHS and Eastview Church traffic makes things inconvenient for anyone travelling. Not a huge deal, but it would make things easier. "

Eagles Lander wrote on Sep 7, 2007 10:38 AM:

" Does anyone know if they are opening Hershey North of Shepard and Raab East of Hershey? "

To all wrote on Sep 7, 2007 9:47 AM:

" It was still his land. Eminent domain should be a very cautious power. In this case, its use appears justified. But be very careful throwing out that "benefits 125k citizens" line. Private property rights are the biggest beacon of freedom there is. "

To: Yep wrote on Sep 7, 2007 7:10 AM:

" You forgot to mention how much the government had to over pay the land owner for their land that they needed to assist many people in our society. The land owner got much more than what that amount of land was worth, so quit crying for them. I am sure he was lauging all the way to the bank!!!!! "

yep yep yep yep wrote on Sep 6, 2007 11:37 PM:

" it'll make that morning commute to corporate south a breeze! lets do it! who do we have to imminent domain now!? "

yep, yep, yep wrote on Sep 6, 2007 10:29 PM:

" Let's get going on the eastside by-pass connecting I-55 to I-74. This would be a great convenience and relieve congestion on Veteran's "

yep, yep wrote on Sep 6, 2007 9:58 PM:

" What you mean to say is government taking land from a citizen for the benefit of 125,000 citizens. "

yep wrote on Sep 6, 2007 8:52 PM:

" government yet again taking away land owned by citizens. "
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