MT. VERNON — The committee tasked with options for a possible Route 15 overpass on the east side of Mt. Vernon presented its first report to the city at Monday night’s city council meeting. In that report includes a possible option to still get an overpass built over the railroads, save plenty of taxpayer money, and have little impact on business on Mt. Vernon’s east side.

Grade Separation Committee Chairman Mike Bullard says the proposed overpass would be a two-lane road that would run down Jordan St. that would go over both rail lines. The Norfolk Southern rail line would be moved east so only one overpass would be needed. He says this proposal, while still in its very early stages, could achieve all of the goals of the committee and the city.

Bullard says members of IDOT, Union Pacific, and the USDA Rural Development all agree that the next step for the city is to hire an engineering firm and apply for a grant to pay that expense.

The city took no action on the report at Monday’s meeting.