The Mayor of Tilton has high hopes that a new intersection can get under construction this year that would help spur economic development. Mayor David Phillips says some boring is being done for samples for an environmental study in an area a short distance south of the Illinois route 1 and 14th Street interchange. But getting about $5.5 million dollars in State funding for the project may be difficult.
The Mayor notes the Village of Tilton has been allowed to spend state engineering and design money for a proposed new intersection that would be complete with traffic signals. ‘’We’ve got business people who are committed, once we get the stop lights,’’ added Phillips. He would not identify the businesses but rumors have been circulating about several, including a possible new pharmacy and sporting goods store. And local realtor Robert Randall would not identify what company is planning to buy land on the northwest corner of Illinois route 1 at 16th Street. ‘’It will be a commercial development,’’ says Randall. But he says he cannot disclose the buyer because the deal is not yet finalized.
[Photo shows the area near a Dollar General Store where a new intersection is proposed with stop lights. It would be directly south of the store.]
Mayor Phillips is also optimistic about possible development along the east side of Illinois route one on large tracks of land near the new Vermilion Chevrolet. The Mayor says the Village has been ‘’trying to do things the proper way by getting utilities ready.’’ But Phillips says he is not aware of any plans for immediate development in the area on the east side of route one, although several prospects have looked at the area.
[This ‘sold’ sign is on the west side of Illinois route 1….at the northwest corner of route 1 and 16th street. It is where an unidentified commercial business plans to locate.]
