NORMAL — Construction of a long-awaited fire station in northeast Normal is expected to start this October following Monday's unanimous approval by the Town Council. The Normal Town Council approved a site plan and an amended contract for Normal Fire Station 2 along with a major plan expansion at Rivian Automotive. The council votes were unanimous except Mayor Chris Koos, who was absent because of a vacation, said the town's communication director, Cathy Oloffson after the meeting.
The Normal Town Council meets Monday at Uptown Station. The amendment sets the total contract with developer Core Construction of Peoria at $7,727,484. This is almost $3 million more than the initial $4,936,000 budgeted for the station.
The council approved a design and construction contract with Core Construction for the new station almost a year ago after a 2014 strategic survey of firefighter and paramedic response times suggested a realignment of the town's fire stations. Construction of the new fire station — which will be at the northeast corner of Shepard and Hershey roads and adjacent to the Blackstone Trails subdivision — can start as soon as Oct. 9 with substantial completion by Oct.
15, 2025. This image shows the proposed Normal Fire Station 2 planned for Hershey and Shepard roads. City Manager Pam Reece said the project was delayed while the town waited for a $1 million state grant sponsored by then-state Rep.
Dan Brady, R-Bloomington. "We're finally ready to go and we're excited .