I have traveled quite often to the Peoria area over the years and have gone a few different ways. For me the best way to go is through Macomb, north on 67 to Roseville,  then east on 116 to Farmington and on to Peoria. It takes me approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes each time I drive that route to Peoria except this past weekend.  I shaved off about 10 minutes in driving time thanks to the opening of the new 2-lane Macomb by-pass.

For those unaware, the bypass has been in the works for years and it finally opened Friday when Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner came to Macomb for the ribbon cutting. The 7.1 mile stretch of two lane highway on the western edge of Macomb is part of the 537 mile Kansas City to Chicago Expressway.

The groundbreaking for the bypass began in 2012 and 6 years later it is operational. It is designed to be a four lane bypass and that is still in the works pending funding being made available for it.

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