BLOOMINGTON - Options on where a possible east-side highway could be built have narrowed from four to three possible choices, but more work remains ahead to select a final one. | Recommendation for new highway engineer on its way

Project engineers estimate it likely will be July before a public meeting will be held on the choice of where to build the highway east of Bloomington-Normal, if the highway should be built. A no-build option still is possible.

"We are narrowing our options and alternatives but we are not at a true decision point," said Jerry Payonk from Clark Dietz, the firm conducting the study.

The route tentatively identified as M4, which runs east of Downs, has been eliminated as a choice because there were too many problems with the route, Payonk said.

Out of the three choices left, Payonk said there are still more questions and data that need to be studied.

Assistant McLean County Highway Engineer Eric Schmitt said Tuesday a report with the final choice could be completed by the end of September.

"There is still a lot of work left to do, but it's coming along," Schmitt said.

The $1.2 million study began in March 2007 to determine if and where a highway east of the Twin Cities should be built to connect Interstates 55 and 74. The study is being funded by about $928,000 in federal grant money and $300,000 in local money contributed by McLean County, the town of Normal and the city of Bloomington.

The citizens' advisory committee is expected to meet this month to continue studying the three remaining choices.

Payonk said the after the advisory committee meets, a public meeting will follow in July. Specific dates have not been set.