As the Target distribution center rises from the Earth at Park 88, the city council has awarded a contract which will result in a road rising at the site as well.

The cost of the $4 million dollar road project will be almost entirely absorbed by non-city funds.

DeKalb will contribute about $700,000 in city revenue, City Manager Mark Biernacki said. Most of the city’s contribution will go toward water line construction.

The balance of the funding for the project will come from state grants for about $1.9 million, Biernacki said. The developer of the Target site will provide the remaining $1.3 million.

At the Feb. 14 city council meeting, members approved awarding the $4 million road construction contract to Rockford Blacktop Construction of Loves Park.

Rockford Blacktop bid $4,043,808, which was significantly below the city engineer’s estimate of $4,479,436, Biernacki said.

At the Target groundbreaking in November, the site was little more than an expanse of lifeless soil. Gov. Rod Blagojevich showed up for the groundbreaking but hustled back to Springfield after hailing the project as part of his “Opportunity Returns” program.

Construction continues to progress at the site.

The project is on schedule for completion sometime in the spring of 2006, Biernacki said.

DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow set the date as more likely in the fall of 2006.

Rockford Blacktop will construct Macom Drive, which will serve as the main access road to the Target distribution center.

Macom Drive, which does not yet exist, will come off of the west end of Fairview Drive, Sparrow said.

City Planner Ray Keller said Macom Drive would extend north from Fairview Drive and around the Target center.

Eventually, there may be some kind of connection to Peace Road, Keller said.