Ike Evans, president and chief operating officer of Union Pacific Railroad, and area elected officials celebrated construction of the railroad's new $181-million intermodal facility in Rochelle IL by driving a three-foot golden spike at the construction site north of Interstate 88. The new intermodal facility will be named Global III. Global I and II are in Chicago IL, along with three other intermodal facilities Union Pacific serves.
The new Global III facility is being built on former agricultural land. On-site storm water detention ponds are being constructed to lessen the current stormwater runoff. Stored stormwater will be released into the Kyte River at a controlled rate.
Rochelle is on UP's main line west of Chicago and served by I-88 and I-39, as well as several state highways. Construction of the facility began in November 2001 with grading and is scheduled to be completed in July 2003. The facility can be developed further based on customer requirements.