The project is funded by an interest-free loan from the county to the city, which will repay the loan with revenue from a special taxing district.
The new 1,700-foot stretch of the Parkway connects Plum Street, also known as the new Illinois Route 159, to the old Route 159. The job was completed by Keller Construction Co. at a cost of $2.8 million.
The new section will still require some work, such as permanent striping and entrance and exit ramps to Edwardsville Crossing, a new retail mall under construction.
Franklin Avenue, another east-west route, has also re-opened after being improved and extended to the new Illinois Route 159, said Eric Williams, Edwardsville assistant city engineer.
The street had an oil and chip surface, which tends to erode along the edges, but has been resurfaced with asphalt. Curbing and drainage have been added. The route will have lanes for traffic and parking. It will provide a smoother flow of traffic, Williams said.
Officials said the Madison County Transit District was waiting for completion of the recent portion of Governor’s Parkway to reroute traffic on Center Grove Road. A bike trail is being built across Center Grove.
Stahlhut said the funding may be in Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns legislationbut the General Assembly has not passed the legislation and highway officials are not sure when the money will come.
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