By: Diane Benjamin
Part 3 has a link to the first two stories: https://blnnews.com/2024/05/09/road-ratings-part-3/
I might be able to finish this with one more part. Keep in mind I’m only summarizing the number of lane miles for the worst roads – those rated 3. There are MANY just slightly better at 4.
The picture below is Williamsburg Dr off of Empire where you turn to get to Lowes. This stretch is rated 4. The roads I’m mapping are 3’s, so they are worse than this:
The area for this story is a little tough to screenshot since Empire west isn’t a straight road. The area I mapped is west of Veterans and north to where Bloomington ends and south to roughly Empire, and west to the city limits.
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I measured 32 rated 3 roads, all was under a 1/2 mile long and all 2 lanes. These short roads aren’t a priority because nobody except residents are going to be impressed.
All these tiny roads total 4.51 miles. Since all are 2 lane: 4.51 x 2 = 9.02 lane miles.
That brings the total to 34.93 lane miles of roads that are barely drivable.
Stay tuned, the total will go higher.
If you want to see a compact area of roads rated 3 and 4, drive through this neighborhood just north of Ewing castle:
What irks me is if you live outside Bloomington and Normal and you purchase fuel in the city limit you are paying taxes on that purchase meant to maintain the streets. Streets that are used to go to businesses in B/N. I believe they call that taxation without representation.
They got behind the eight ball so to speak years ago when the city decided to get into the entertainment business. Not even related to what the government should be into.
It seems they can’t even resurface highly visible streets. Look what a mess Eastland Drive is east of Veteran’s Parkway. The maintenance drives around doing some half a** patch the holes job. Mercer Ave. north of Veteran’s Parkway (VP) is like driving on a corn cob the way the concrete is all busted up and unlevel. Lincoln going west from VP isn’t much better. What century will Four Season Rd be fixed? How about Oakland Ave going west from VP?
When driving in B/N it is necessary to watch for deep potholes, they can damage your vehicle!