(KTTS News) — Construction is officially underway on the Grant Avenue Parkway project.

The project will connect businesses and neighborhoods on Grant Avenue between downtown and the Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium.

Edited Press Release

After two years of community-wide engagement, stakeholder and partner agency coordination and engineering design, construction of roadway improvements along the Grant Avenue Parkway is beginning in May.

There was a kickoff ceremony planned for May 19.

Construction activities on the Parkway began with streetscape improvements, including stormwater and sidewalk improvements, taking place along Mill Street between Campbell Avenue and Main Street.

At the close of the school year, major construction is expected to ramp up with the complete closure of Grant Avenue between Ildereen and Meadowmere.

Construction will focus in this first section of Parkway to allow the roadway to be rebuilt quickly during the summer months, reducing traffic impacts to Parkview High School.

More details about construction plans and impacts will be shared at the kick-off event and immediately following at grantavenueparkway.com.

About the Grant Avenue Parkway project

Funded primarily by a $21 million federal Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant, the Grant Avenue Parkway will provide major transportation improvements along Grant Avenue in the heart of Springfield.

The project will create a multi-use pedestrian and bicycle pathway along Grant Avenue between Sunshine Street and Downtown Springfield.

The three-mile stretch will connect downtown businesses and neighborhoods with the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium (WOW).

The route is envisioned to include bike and pedestrian friendly facilities, various traffic-calming improvements, bridge enhancements, utility upgrades, fiberoptic internet connectivity and additional crossing and intersection improvements.