A new path rises above Dixon

New life has come to the old Illinois Central Railroad line that once ran through the heart of Dixon. The last train rolled through here in 1985, but the first footsteps, bicycles and other non-motorized traffic are using it today.

A project converted part of the line from near IDOT’s District 2 headquarters on Depot Avenue to Dixon’s downtown at Peoria Avenue and the Rock River. Dixon leaders, District 2 and the community celebrated the new $4.3 million shared-use path extension and the potential it has for this Lee County city of 15,274 during a July 18 ceremony.

“I’ve been excited to see in the past few weeks that this pathway has been getting a lot of excitement,” says Li Arellano Jr., a former Dixon mayor who initiated the project. “People have been using it. I was on it last night with my son and I saw multiple groups of families and kids of all ages walking and building experiences that have never been in Dixon before along there. I had a lot of comments that we have never been back there, we’ve never been up there.”

“Back there” and “up there” was a rail line that began at-grade at its south end but soon crosses high above city streets via three stone arch bridges crafted from Galena limestone quarried locally in Dixon. The arches—which run over First, Second and Third streets—are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and were rehabilitated in 1999.

Approaching downtown, the trail leaves the alignment via a graded wooden boardwalk designed to endure Illinois winters. Lighting and emergency call boxes line the path to add safety for users. Once downtown, the path connects to the Heritage Crossing Riverfront Plaza that runs along the Rock River.

“A year ago, my last speech as mayor I emphasized that one of the reasons why we’re so passionate about this project is we saw how much the community responded to Heritage Crossing and to the new pathway along River Road,” Arellano said. “We wanted to give that as a symbol to people to show that yes, we’ve been through a lot, but we were growing, that we were building, that we were responding to their needs and what they wanted.”

This project completes another phase of the Dixon Riverfront Masterplan, which had its conceptual beginnings more than 20 years ago. Larry Reed, a former District 2 program development engineer and a former chair of the Dixon Riverfront Commission, presented a vision for the future with the hopes of spurring ideas and funding opportunities to make these plans and visions a reality. Others, including former District 2 Engineer Bill Ost, caught that vision and helped complete Dixon’s Heritage Crossing Riverfront Plaza in which this path ties into.

“We now look forward to continuing the vision that was set by the late Larry Reed and the late Bill Ost, as well as continuing our partnership with the city of Dixon in these efforts,” said District 2 Local Roads and Streets Engineer Shawn Ortgiesen.

Planning for the trail began in 2016. The city, under Arellano, applied for federal funding administered by the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program. It received $3.4 million in two funding cycles.

The city also received additional federal funding for remediation and environmental work at the old Dixon Iron and Metal Co., where the ramp from the old railroad connects with the riverfront trail at an area called Viaduct Point. That was a $4 million effort, says Dixon City Manager Danny Langloss Jr.

Ground was broken for the path in April 2023.

“When I think about today, I really think about three words: Vision, leadership and execution,” Langloss said. “And this project is a symbol of all those three things.”

Officials at the ceremony emphasized the project is not done as the boardwalk ramp creates a spur to connect to downtown Dixon. The city has secured a $12 million federal RAISE grant to construct the next phase of the trail called Project Rock. That work will extend the trail across the Rock River into Page Park and has the capability to connect with trails that will travel outside of Dixon. That project will be let for bid this fall.

Dixon leaders also hope the trail could extend to the city’s south end where it can connect with future parkland and its gateway shopping area.

“Today, let us celebrate with the knowledge that the community can enjoy this pathway for years to come,” Dixon Mayor Glen Hughes said. “However, we should be thankful for all those who had a vision to enhance the riverfront and the community of Dixon more than 22 years ago and those who have kept that vision alive since then.”