CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) — The Champaign City Council voted to approve phase II of the downtown plaza project during Tuesday night's meeting.
The council voted 7-0 to approved the bid received for construction of phase II, which will cost almost $14 million, according to city council documents.
Three bids were submitted for the project, with Duce Construction Company submitting the lowest bid at $13,668,000. Council documents said that bid was almost $1 million lower than the engineer's estimate.
The project also includes a potential incentive payment to the company of up to $341,700 for the use of minority and women-owned subcontractors and the employment of minorities or females on the projects.
The City of Champaign received $12 million in state funding for the second phase of the project.
Phase II features will include a lighted, pop-jet fountain, small business kiosks, a large lawn area, art elements, swings and benches. Public restrooms will be built in the lot north of The Orpheum.Â
The phase will also address mobility and pedestrian safety through the reconstruction of the Neil Street and Hill Street intersection and reconstruction of Washington Street from Neil Street to Walnut Street.Â
The city council documents said phase II construction will begin on August 3, pending approval of the council bills. Improvements to the street and plaza are scheduled to be mostly complete by November 19, 2027. The remaining work, including any punch list items, will be complete by July 28, 2028.
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