McLean County, Illinois, is seeking a federal grant to help add seven miles to a Route 66 bicycle trail outside of the Bloomington-Normal metro area.
According to WJBC radio:
The McLean County Board is expected to apply for federal funds to add a 4-mile stretch of the trail between Lexington and Towanda and a 3.25-mile area from south of Shirley to Funks Grove with the eventual goal of stretching the path the entire length of McLean County. […]
Work is expected to wrap up soon on a 4-mile stretch of the trail between Normal and Towanda and work is scheduled to begin soon on a 2.5-mile portion north of Towanda.
If it seems as if McLean County is building the bicycle trail piecemeal, you are correct. County Board Vice Chairman Soeldner said that approach gives small towns on Route 66 a chance to put the required fundraising into their budgets.
For the current project, McLean County and local governments will need to cover 20 percent of the cost, which will be $116,000.
More about Route 66 bicycle tourism may be read here.