PEORIA, Ill. – For the second time this week, the city of Peoria has cut the ribbon on a completed road construction project.
At Concordia Lutheran School on Friday, city leaders officially completed the end of the two year Glen Avenue project. The $13.6 million project rebuilt the road between War Memorial and University, along with new sidewalks, storm sewer infrastructure, traffic lights, and ADA-compliant ramps.
Earlier this week, a similar project was completed on Wisconsin Ave. after it began in March.
Public Works’ Nick McMillion says the ribbon cutting ceremony was the culmination of years of work.
“To reach a day like today after years and years of planning, construction, design, you name it, it’s just a great feeling to reach today,” McMillion said.
McMillion says the stretch of Glen had run its course of lifetime, and needed to be replaced. He says it’s “thrilling” to be able to provide residents a smooth road to drive on.
The construction process involved shutting down the northbound and southbound lanes in different segments, causing head-to-head traffic for a couple years. The construction process also affected traffic at Concordia, with McMillion saying the city basically blocked off the school’s “front door” for a couple years.
“We’ve had to block off their entrances and exits to do the work. So to have them involved, it just means that much more, because they may have had a little bit of delay getting in and out. But to see it, and be part of this great day, it’s absolutely incredible,” McMillion said about students from Concordia involved in the ribbon cutting.
While the projects on Wisconsin and Glen are now done, McMillion says the city’s other major road work on Adams will continue until about mid-December.
