Three Peoria infrastructure projects could get about $4 million in funding assistance through requests by the area’s representatives in the U.S. House.
The largest of the congressionally directed spending requests is $1.6 million sought by U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Moline, to upgrade the intersection of Northmoor Road and University Street.
Peoria City Manager Patrick Urich said the intersection has been slated for reconstruction, and the project already received some money through the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission.
“The rest is coming from our state motor fuel tax proceeds and local motor fuel tax proceeds,” said Urich, adding if Sorensen’s request is approved, the city could direct local motor fuel tax money to other projects.
The plan calls for dedicated right-turn lanes, dual left-turn lanes, new sidewalks and a multi-use path. Traffic signals would be moved off the islands to improve safety.
“We have done Northmoor; that has been reconstructed from Sheridan all the way to Allen Road. But we did not have the funding to do this intersection,” Urich said. “For the people that travel on that, they know that as you get to that intersection, there's some challenging pavement, I'll say, in that area. And this would allow us to do a complete reconstruct.”
U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Dunlap, included two Peoria projects among his funding requests: $1.5 million for the Radnor Road Corridor Plan, and $1 million to assist development of the Galena Road Industrial Park.
Urich said the city hopes to buy some property owned by Illinois American Water for the Galena Road development.
“We've just created a TIF in this area, (and) we're looking and in discussions with the water company about acquiring 55 acres from them to look at creating a business park. The $1 million would go towards land acquisition,” Urich said.
LaHood’s request for the Radnor Road funding indicates the money would pay for preliminary design and planning on a project that would “improve public safety, increase economic development, and expand transportation accessibility” for residents.
Urich noted that the Radnor Road corridor project is considered a Peoria County highway project.
“I think that that request there is to look at doing some of the reconstruction work to build that up to city standards, and then eventually the county would turn that road over to the city,” Urich said.
