By Andy Dahn
BLOOMINGTON – Monday’s vicious storm that knocked out power for much of central Illinois and multiple stoplights in the Bloomington-Normal area has local officials thinking of alternate ways to keep some power sources running in case of an emergency.
Bloomington Public Works Director Jim Karch said the city continues to look at keeping area traffic signals functioning during power losses.
“One of the newer things that Bloomington is trying to go to in coordination with state routes that the Illinois Department of Transportation controls is a backup power system,” Karch said. “So even if there’s a power loss, it would keep signals operational. We’re really trying to push towards that in the community because we think it’s a safer thing. ”
Karch said Bloomington is working with IDOT to make more of the backup systems a reality.
“Most of the routes in Bloomington, like Veteran’s and Main Street are state routes,” said Karch. “Those are really done in coordination and cooperation with IDOT.”
Veteran’s Parkway, Clinton and Towanda were just some of the traffic signals that went out during Monday’s storm, which Karch said caused multiple safety risks for drivers.
Andy Dahn can be reached at andy.dahn@cumulus.com.
