By Kayla Johnson
PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – A busy intersection will be totally reconstructed in an effort that city leaders hope will make the area safer.
The intersection of Forrest Hill Avenue and Sterling Avenue recorded 114 crashes over five years, according to state crash data from 2018 through 2022.
City documents show the majority of those crashes involved turning vehicles, especially left turns.
About 20,000 vehicles pass through the intersection each day on Sterling Avenue. The Illinois Department of Transportation’s safety mapping classifies the location as a high-crash intersection.
Data from the City of Peoria shows roughly two-thirds of all crashes involved turning movements, and most of those were tied to left turns.
Engineers point to a design problem: Negatively balanced left-turn lanes, which can make it harder for drivers to see oncoming traffic.
The intersection sits near the Peoria and West Peoria border and serves drivers heading to shopping, services and government offices. It is also a connection point for riders on two CityLink bus routes.
The intersection has sidewalks and painted crosswalks, but documents say there are no proper median openings or ADA ramps to fully accommodate crossings.
Crash records show two pedestrian crashes resulted in injuries. One report cited a pedestrian stepping off the center median to finish crossing Sterling.
After reviewing multiple alternatives, the preferred plan is a full reconstruction of the intersection.
The proposal includes reconfiguring left-turn lanes to eliminate negative offsets, which is where cars making opposing left turns block each other’s line of sight.
The plan also seeks to adjust channelized right turns to improve angles for easier turning and installing reflective material on traffic signals to make signal heads easier to see.
The total estimated cost is $5,765,000. The city is requesting 100% funding through the Highway Safety Improvement Program.
U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-17) presented the city with a $250,000 check in federal funding to support improvements at the intersection.
“When we talk about infrastructure we are not just talking about roads and concrete, this is about people,” Sorensen said. “It’s about peace of mind for families. It’s about making communities stronger for the future.”
City leaders say the goal is to reduce serious crashes without slowing down the major arterial route while also making it safer for pedestrians trying to cross or connect between bus stops.
If funding is approved, next steps include final design work, right-of-way coordination and a construction timeline.
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