Bloomington applying for federal grant to extend Hamilton Road

Posted on November 28, 2016

The City Council approved the application Monday night. (Joe Ragusa/WJBC)

By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington is taking a shot at getting some federal funding to help extend Hamilton Road on the city’s south side.

The City Council on Monday approved applying for an $8.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The extension would run from Bunn Street to Commerce Parkway.

“It really is that hole in the donut, as far as a southern east-west road that conveys about 15,000 cars, if it were built,” said Public Works Director Jim Karch. “It would take a lot of the traffic off Veterans Parkway. It would be a major arterial (road) along the southern part of Bloomington.”

Karch added the project is expected to cost about $14.5 million, meaning if the city gets the grant it would still need to find additional funding.

“We’re trying to find funding for it. We’re trying to find a way to get that road built,” he said.

Bloomington is including the project in the One Voice advocacy program. It’s also including a push for funding to rehabilitate U.S. 51 through Bloomington-Normal in the One Voice program.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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