Peoria Pundit

The City of Peoria recently spent a bunch of cash upgrading the intersection of Main and University. I forget exactly how long it took, but I recall my route to and from work was changed for many weeks. Within days of completion, a crew from Illinois American Water Company was tearing up the road to fix a leak. Well, we have another one. Here’s a Peoria City Hall press release:

Starting immediately, Illinois American Water Company will be repairing a water leak at the intersection of Main and University. The right lane of eastbound Main will be closed on the west side of the intersection. In addition, the left lane and left turn lane of northbound University will be closed on the south side of intersection. Traffic delays are expected. The work is anticipated to last through the weekend.

I’d like to see the Peoria City Council discuss a way to get IAWCo to pay to return that intersection to the status in which it was BEFORE they tore it up. At the very least, they need to forced to make permanent repairs to whatever equipment is causing all the problems.

I knew this was going to happen the night last week I drove past Main and University and saw an Illinois American work crew digging up the pavement right in front of Avanti’s on Main:

(Press release)

Due to a recent water leak at Main and University, Illinois American Water Company will need to shut down several lanes starting today, to facilitate valve repairs.

On eastbound Main Street, the left turn lane will be closed to northbound University for the next several days. Westbound Main Street will be reduced to one lane for one day with the center lane closed for equipment. The right turn lane on southbound University will remain closed.

Please avoid this intersection as long delays will occur. Surface restoration work is expected to take three days. All traffic should be open by Monday, November 24, 2008, weather permitting.

This is going to make life Hell for me, as I often have to travel past this intersection to get my parents’ house in Kingspark Estates. Now, I will have to make a big, long looping detour through West Peoria or go north to West Nebraska. I’m hoping this work doesn’t involve closing University as Columbia Terrace, If not, I’ll be able to take a shortcut through the Uplands.

And I’d like to know what it is about Illinois American that requires their friggin’ lines to break AFTER city taxpayers fix the roads. It is not possible for this people to replace or to maintenance on lines WHILE the streets are torn up, but before the new surface is in place?

And can we not send a bill to this foreign-owned, for-profit corporation for the cost of returning the street to the condition it was in before their property became all defective.

(press release)

The outside lanes of both northbound and southbound Sterling Avenue will be closed between Forrest Hill Avenue and Gilbert Avenue for approximately one week starting Monday, August 18th.  Illinois American Water Company will be working on their utility services.  Please take an alternate route to avoid any delays.