Eastern Avenue Reopening: Bike, Run, Walk Road Before Traffic Rolls

MANHATTAN, IL — Manhattan, this is it. It's really happening. The moment you've all been asking about on social media.

Village officials next week will hold a ribbon cutting on the newly rebuilt one-mile extension, and residents are invited to bike, walk, or run the road Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 10 a.m.—a ceremonial reopening before the onset of actual traffic. The road will then officially re-open to traffic, following the ceremony.

The one-mile extension and reconstructed road from Baker to Smith roads was contractually guaranteed to be re-opened by Nov. 30, Mayor Mike Adrieansen said, but he had hoped for a few days earlier, originally expecting Nov. 25.

The Village in May approved the rebuilding and reopening of Eastern Avenue, from Baker to Smith Road, bringing back another north/south entry point and connection to neighboring New Lenox. Work was projected to be completed within two months, Adrieansen said.

The extension "is a great thing happening," the mayor said.

"It will create a safer route for our residents and young drivers."

The portion of road was closed approximately 20 years ago due to its poor condition, Adrieansen previously told Patch. Reopening the stretch increases access to and from Manhattan, as a third north/south corridor along with Cedar Road and US 52. The reopening is essential as Manhattan grows, Adrieansen said, and was a top priority for him following his election.

"With all the truck traffic and the increased amount of traffic, we thought that this would be a safer route for our residents," Adrieansen told Patch in May, "especially young residents first getting their license."

The stretch will give residents another route to Lincoln-Way West High School, specifically, he said.