Changes improve traffic situation after fireworks

CHAMPAIGN – It may not have been perfect, but traffic appeared to move a little more rapidly following Friday's Champaign County Freedom Celebration fireworks show than it did a year ago, when massive gridlock characterized the event's aftermath.

There were several bottlenecks on Mattis Avenue, but traffic moved fairly steadily on Bradley Avenue. All but one Parkland College parking lot was clear within 45 minutes of the end of the show, according to Champaign police Sgt. Scott Friedlein, who monitored the situation from an airplane.

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