Construction in DeKalb and the surrounding areas is focusing on improving infrastructure while also attracting new business and better jobs to boost the economy.

Park 88, a 460-acre real estate development located near I-88 at Peace Road, is designed with the idea that manufacturing, distribution, office space and service/retail businesses would be attracted to a facility which, according to Economic Development Planner Chad Bryden “will be heavily landscaped throughout.”

Park 88 will be a corporate park with 21st -century amenities that would cater to businesses looking to “take advantage of lower land values and development costs and a well- educated labor force,” Bryden said.

Jim Connors, DeKalb City Manager, also said that businesses would like to take advantage of the economic growth near I-88 where companies such as Nestle, Goodyear/CTI and 3M have corporate offices.

“Park 88 is a very significant park development that will have a variety of business and industrial uses that will add substantially to the economy in DeKalb,” said Connors. “For example, this would give NIU students more job opportunities during their college programs to utilize their skills in areas such as business and graphic arts.”

Other than Park 88, construction around DeKalb slowly is winding down as winter months near.

According to Joel Maurer, DeKalb assistant city engineer, except for a new traffic light at the intersection of Annie Glidden Road and Stadium Drive to be activated Wednesday, there would be no new construction projects that would affect NIU students until the spring, when West Taylor Street could have some road closings while a bridge near Lyons Park will be under construction.

The I-88 eastbound lanes from DeKalb to Rochelle will fully open soon depending on weather conditions, said Jan Kemp, spokesperson for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. There will be an ongoing pavement repair project on Route 251 from Rochelle to Rock Falls that would last for the next couple of weeks.

The I-88 eastbound lane to the I-290 Eisenhower underpass isn’t scheduled for completion until this time next year and the lanes on the adjoining ramp will not be fully opened until the beginning of November.