By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – Plans are on hold for expensive road upgrades at the intersection of Ireland Grove and Towanda Barnes Road, in far southeast Bloomington.
The city council Monday night delayed action, deciding instead to refer the issue for more study to Bloomington’s fledgling transportation commission.
Bloomington would spend $900.000 in motor fuel taxes in a cost-sharing agreement with McLean County government.
Aldermen Karen Schmidt and Scott Black said they’ve heard a lot of negative public comments, and council member Jamie Mathy suggested the money might be better spent on road projects closer to the city’s core.
“This is a lot of money to spend on the fringe of the community,” said Mathy.
“I’m not saying there’s not traffic safety issues there, but are there other things we could do where we could shift some of those dollars into more high priority areas?”
Council member Kimberly Bray considers the intersection priority infrastructure because of safety worries, and schools are close by.
“We need to take a holistic approach in my view about a level of service and infrastructure that starts with public safety and good traffic flow, and servicing areas where we have schools, and keeping people safe,” said Bray.
Alderman Mathy said people drive too fast in the area, and it might be a better idea to figure out how to encourage drivers to slow down.
City and county staffers said the intersection is the busiest and most dangerous outside of Bloomington and Normal’s core.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
