Veterans Parkway strives to become safer for the community

Image courtesy of the McLean County Government Center’s official Facebook page

NORMAL, Ill. – Veteran’s Parkway is looking to make new changes to provide a safer environment for pedestrians and vehicles.

The McLean County Regional Planning Commission has undergone a study that will work to identify the needs for both pedestrian and bicycle accommodations. The commission is asking the public about their experiences on Veterans Parkway so they can properly adhere to the community’s needs. The Town of Normal Public Works and Engineering Director Ryan Otto says they are working to accommodate all modes of transportation on Veterans Parkway.

“We have a lot of employers in the area and people who need to get to work, and if you choose to use a bike or go on foot, it’s hard right now to get to work,” Otto said. 

The lack of accommodation on Veterans Parkway has resulted in people crossing the road at various points of their choosing, leading to many reported accidents in the area.

“Unfortunately there have been some fatalities over the years in the form of bikes and pedestrians,”  Otto said. “Those are the results of the design of the roadway and how it’s used currently. That’s what makes us want to take a deeper dive into how to make this better for everybody,” said Otto.

The commission is in the initial phases of public outreach and will  begin reconfiguration projects in the spring of 2026. The survey to report personal experience on Veterans Parkway can be found at mcplan.org.