31st Street Extension Opens Up Marion, Many Possibilities

What better way to signal a 20-years-in-coming road project is complete then having to scurry out of the middle of the new street as the first cars come barreling through.

Local officials and business leaders gathered at the intersection of Grand Avenue and 31st Street on Tuesday afternoon for a ceremonial ribbon cutting to officially open the 31st Street extension on the southeast side of town.

"It's a great north-south connection for our community," said Jill Ackerman, president of the Marion Chamber of Commerce.

The extension offers a direct connection from the north side of the city to Highway 100 on the south side. In the past, commuters had to navigate numerous turns to get across town.

31st Street now links one of Marion's fastest growing sections to the heart of the community. Officials and business leaders are optimistic the connection will bring many opportunities for residential and commercial growth.

From the start of construction, the project took about three years and $1.3 million, city manager Lon Pluckhahn said. But, the extension was conceived in 1992 - 20 years ago - when Highway 100 first came through Marion, he said.

Changing personnel and changing regulations at the state level delayed the project every time it appeared ready to launch, said Marion Mayor Allen "Snooks" Bouska. He credits State Sen. Liz Mathis, a Democrat that represents the district, for removing the hurdles and facilitating the project.