Category Archives: Road Reports

UPDATED: Center St. in Bloomington closed for sewer repairs

BLOOMINGTON – Center Street between Baker and Stewart streets now has one lane open to traffic as sewer repair work continues. Both lanes will open when work concludes. For more information, contact the Bloomington Public Works Department, 309-434-2225.MORE

Fort Jesse Rd. to close for main repair

NORMAL – The City of Bloomington water department will be making an emergency water main repair in the Town of Normal on Fort Jesse Rd. between Towanda Ave. and Landmark Dr. Due to the location of the water main, Fort Jesse will be closed to through traffic. The road closure is scheduled to begin on…MORE

Emerson St. closed for water main break

BLOOMINGTON – Effective immediately, Emerson St. between Sunset Dr. and Towanda Ave. is closed to through traffic.   Road will be closed for street repairs due to water main break. Drivers will need to take alternate routes.MORE

Mercer Ave. closed for sewer repairs

BLOOMINGTON – Effective immediately, southbound lane of Mercer Ave. between Oakland and Castle will be closed for sewer repairs.  Road will be closed until work is completed. For more information, please contact Public Works Department,  309-434-2225.  MORE

McLean County road closures

Gillum Road, which is also CH 29 or 1900 East Road, between 500 and 600 North roads will be closed to through traffic on Tuesday and Wednesday, weather permitting, for guardrail repairs in this area.MORE

Washington St. closed for sewer repairs

BLOOMINGTON – Eastbound Washington Street at Madison Street is closed, only during work hours, to all eastbound traffic due to sewer repairs and it will be reopened as soon as work is completed. Drivers must use alternate routes. For more information, contact the Bloomington Public Works Department, 309-434-2225.  MORE

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…