The 13-mile Rock Island recreational trail is completely connected. The Peoria Park District held a ribbon cutting to officially open the Greenway Bridge piece of the trail over Knoxville Avenue. Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood helped secure some of the grant funding for the project. He says the connectivity of the trail will draw more people interested in recreation:
“It allows families to really have an opportunity to experience the beauty of Central Illinois either on their bike or by walking...this trail is really for the next generation,” LaHood says.
The Park District received a $3.75 million grant from the state to convert the old railroad tracks into a recreational bridge. Construction on the bridge project took eight months to complete. The bridge completes the connection of the Bob Michel bridge to Alta Road.