Parkinson Street lot closure and Constitution Trail detour

Normal, Ill. – Sept. 14, 2026 – As construction begins on the Underpass in Uptown Normal, changes are happening in and around the area. Beginning Monday, Sept. 21:

• The Parkinson Street Parking Lot off Linden Avenue will be closed to the public and a construction zone will be delineated with fencing (limited public parking will be available further south of this lot); and
• Constitution Trail will be detoured around the construction zone.

“This activity reflects progress in Uptown Normal is underway. While construction may create temporary inconveniences, this effort is strengthening Uptown Normal for years to come,” says Town of Normal City Manager Pamela Reece.

Constitution Trail closure and detour

Signs have been posted north of Vernon Avenue indicating a Constitution Trail closure. This closure will allow for installation of a sidewalk that will be used for the Trail’s detour during construction.

Once the Trail reopens, it will be detoured at the Phoenix Avenue intersection until construction is complete.

The detour will be signed and will direct trail users west on Phoenix Avenue to Broadway Avenue, north on Broadway Avenue to the north sidewalk of Beaufort Street, and east along Beaufort Street to Uptown Circle. From there, users can access the trail at the trailhead north of Uptown Circle.

Per existing ordinances in Uptown Normal, bicyclists who choose to ride in the street should follow existing traffic patterns up Beaufort and around Uptown Circle. Pedestrians should use the sidewalk on the north side of Beaufort Street.

If cyclists choose to use the sidewalk, they must dismount and walk their bicycles through Uptown Normal as required by Town ordinance.

Parking

Uptown Normal offers a number and variety of other parking options, including three parking decks, 129 on-street parking spaces and available surface parking lots. Learn more on the Parking Page of the Town of Normal website.

Stay informed

To stay informed about construction, subscribe to The Underpass Project Page (Normalil.gov/Underpass) on The Normal Forum (Normalil.gov/Forum). Subscribers get the latest updates and information about projects.