Washington’s Freedom Parkway opens with plans for future development

WASHINGTON ( 25News Now ) - After one-and-a-half years of construction, the extension of Freedom Parkway in Washington to Cummings Lane is now open to traffic.

The extension will ease traffic congestion from major stores like Walmart and Menards. Before the project's completion, drivers could only exit at McClugage Road.

"This is a huge project for the City of Washington. The amount of growth potential that is offered just from this corridor alone will help move the city forward in the future," said City Engineer David Carr.

"Opening this road all the way up to Cummings will allow for people to not just be forced into going towards McClugage," said Carr.

The project cost the city just over $6.5 million with the help of a $2.1 million grant from the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission.

Mayor Gary Manier said the new road will make shopping more accessible.

"It's just an opportunity for the residential folks who come out of the subdivisions to be able to come to Walmart and Menards, where they [otherwise] may just jump on the bypass and go to Peoria, Eureka, Metamora or someplace else to do some shopping," Mayor Manier said.

The area on both sides of Freedom Parkway is privately owned and zoned for multifamily residential or commercial use.

Manier said he hopes it spurs developers' interest to purchase parts of the land.