Phase 1 of a 214 million dollar project opened to the public on Saturday, December 3, 2016. Phase 1 of the Highway 100 extension, going from Covington Road to Edgewood Road NE, welcomed bicyclists and other pedestrians at its grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony  on December 3. Visitors were invited to bike the four-mile path before cars had the chance to drive on it.

The grand opening was a long time in the making. The city of Cedar Rapids had hoped for an extension of Highway 100 for nearly forty years. Construction on Phase 1 of the Highway 100 extension has been in the works since June of 2014. Phase 1 included grading from Old Ferry Road to Ushers Ferry Road, in addition to building bridges over Old Ferry, Ushers Ferry, and the Cedar River. Although workers have dealt with rain, snow, and heat, they have managed to open the road ahead of schedule.

“Originally, this section was not going to open up until next year,” Iowa Department of Transportation project manager John Vu said. “Then we said, ‘If we can open it earlier, why not?’”

While the new projected date for the opening of Phase 1 was before Thanksgiving, Phase 1 opened to traffic on December 15. The December 3 ribbon cutting ceremony was the first step in getting Phase 1 open for use.

While four new miles of Highway 100 are now open, the second phase of the project will not be completed until 2018 or 2019. Phase 2 will stretch from Covington Road to Highway 30, connecting both Highway 100 and Highway 30. When completed, the roadway will span a total of eight miles.

“The opening of the highway creates efficiencies in the transportation system,” Cedar Rapids City Planner Seth Gunnerson said. “That will create attractive locations for the growth that does happen in the region.”

With the expansion of a highly traveled road, the hope for a connected community is strong.