Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – It’s fun to cut ribbons, and that’s what the people involved with Springfield’s rail consolidation project did Monday morning.

Celebrating the opening of the Madison / Jefferson underpass at Eleventh Street, after the two major arteries were closed for more than a year, Illinois Department of Transportation secretary Omer Osman (second from right) said, “The impact on safety and quality of life here in Springfield will be immediate, including reduced congestion and traffic delays, livability on commercial development, and vital access for first responders.”

The project missed out on its final bit of funding, but U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (first on right) (D-Ill.) said he is optimistic the federal government will come through, after delaying the project about a year.