Venture Drive proposal shared with business owners and shoppers

You can’t turn left, oncoming traffic doesn’t have to stop, and there are a bunch of bright orange sticks. Can you guess where in Peru you are? The intersection by Dairy Queen in Peru was reconfigured in 2012 to prevent traffic on 38^th Street from backing up onto Route 251. Ever since businesses owners and shoppers have been complaining.

Police Chief Doug Bernabei stressed the need for safety during a presentation about the intersection Tuesday night. Several dozen people listened to City Engineer Eric Carls’ proposal to move the intersection of Venture Drive and 38^th Street about 100 feet west, into the Peru Place Shopping Centre parking lot. That would allow room for a right turn lane from westbound 38^th Street to northbound Venture Drive while still leaving enough room for you to turn left or right onto 38^th Street when leaving Venture.

It is an expensive project, but the developer of the shopping center wants to see the intersection improved and is willing to sell the city the right-of-way for one dollar. The road work is estimated to cost $500,000.

Kristen Eustis was there for First Federal Savings Bank, one of the businesses affected by the traffic. She says they are trying to work with the city.

The plan isn’t final. Carls wants to hold a follow up meeting in two weeks.