A major detour will be implemented in the heart of downtown Streator next week as work continues on the multi-year Kent Street interceptor sewer project.

Beginning Thursday, Nov. 12, Route 23 southbound (Bloomington Street) will be detoured from Morrell Street to Elm Street. During the detour, northbound and southbound traffic will both utilize Park Street, which will be re-striped as a two-lane, two-way road with a center bi-directional turn lane. In addition, no parking will be allowed along Park, Morrell, Kent or Elm streets within the detour area.

The side streets within the detour area, Broadway, Kent and Elm streets, will be closed to through traffic during the closure, however, will be open to customers of the various businesses, medical offices and church within the area. Directional signs indicating the route to these businesses will be installed within the detour area to help direct customers to their destinations.

To help clarify this, please note that per standard construction area signage methods, barricades within the closure area that read "Road Closed to Thru Traffic" indicate a driver may slowly drive past the barricade to reach a specific destination. Barricades with signs reading simply "Road Closed," however, may not be passed because work will be performed immediately behind the barricade.

The best way to help avoid an accident is to proceed slowly through the area observing the posted directional signs and if need be, passing through the detour area once to familiarize yourself with it and then doubling back to make the appropriate turn movement.

This detour is necessary so the city and Illinois American Water can install new sanitary and storm sewers as well as a water main within the intersection of Kent and Bloomington streets as part of the Kent Street interceptor project funded in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The detour will remain in effect until work in the area is completed. The work is anticipated to be completed within two months of the start of the closure, weather permitting.

Following the reopening of Bloomington Street after the work is completed, more information will be released regarding the second phase of the detour, which will involve the detouring of northbound traffic from Park Street to Bloomington Street.

Questions can be directed to City Engineer Jeremy Palm at 815-672-2517.