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Delays Keep Market Street Closed

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Twin city drivers anxious to begin using West Market Street again following railroad trestle work will have to wait a bit longer. The rail upgrade was originally supposed to begin in the fall of 2014, but was repeatedly delayed. Work by Union Pacific, owner of the tracks, finally began this spring and completion was estimated for Labor Day. Now it looks more like Halloween, maybe. Bloomington City Engineer Jim Karch says one reason for the delay is a change the city sought to increase visibility by employing a 'sloped wall,' replacing the old vertical retaining wall:

"It's basically concrete pavement tipped at more of an extreme angle so that there's no erosion. But it's needed, it's a good thing but it's just apparently come into conflict with some of the utilities in the area, and they're having a hard time with that." Karch says a wet June and July also slowed things down a bit. Union Pacific is the owner of the railroad, and is performing the work.

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