WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderRiverside construction finished

Riverside construction finished

By Katie Nilsson

LOVES PARK (WREX) - The ribbon is cut on a multimillion dollar construction project in Loves Park.  Rockford area leaders hope its finish, spurs growth.  The area we're talking about is Riverside Boulevard and the I-90 interchange.  It's been under construction for about 2 years.

Drivers have had to navigate their way around barricades, and road construction cones while driving to popular places like the new YMCA,  Sportscore Two and Road Ranger Stadium.  Loves Park Mayor Darryl Lindberg hopes congestion in the area eases, now that this project is finished.  "Traffic on the weekends sometimes was so intense, that cars would back up actually down on to I-90 into the traffic lane and that's an absolute disaster waiting to happen."

Another hope is that it'll attract more people to the area, to shop, and encourage more businesses to open up.  The land along Riverside is what developers call, "shovel ready" complete with sewer, water and electricity.    "It's going to be ideal for any number of commercial, distribution or anything else of that sort", says Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christensen.

Riverside used to be just two lanes in both directions, now, it's four. Crews also put in new turn lanes and traffic lights.   Something that's got Rockford Park District Executive Director Tim Dimke excited.   "This facility and Sportsscore One work in tandem and we will now be able to program this facility more easily in tandem with sportsscore One and not have to be concerned about the numbers of cars and numbers of people coming in and out of this facility."

The project price tag is close to $30,000,000.   It was paid for by the Cities of Loves Park and Rockford, Winnebago County, The Rockford Park District and private donors.