Train cars loaded up with gravel make a test run across the nearly-completed CRANDIC railroad bridge southwest of Penford Products in Cedar Rapids in July 2009. (Rob Merritt/Freelance)

Work is moving ahead to take the popular Cedar River Trail under the railroad bridge just down river from the Eighth Avenue bridge in downtown Cedar Rapids.

The railroad bridge, which was damaged in the June 2008 flood, was rebuilt to a higher level and designed to allow a trail underpass, city officials note.

This week, the City Council hired HR Green Inc. to design the underpass at a cost not to exceed $56,776.

The Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railroad has contributed $82,400 to the construction project, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved $432,241 in disaster funds for the work as well.