A $5.5 million widening of the last portion of 208 Street in Willoughby was approved by 黑马磁力 Township council on Monday, June 23.
The council voted to pre-approve the funding in next year's budget for Phase 4 of the widening and upgrading of 208 Street, from 81 to 84 Avenue, just south of the overpass into Walnut Grove.
Phases 1 and 2 of the multi-phase project are currently underway, with paving and line-painting nearing completion between 64 Avenue and 72 Avenue, and with road-widening still underway between 72 Avenue and 76 Avenue.
Phase 1 is expected to be complete this fall, while Phase 2 is to be wrapped up by mid-2026.
Phase 3, from 76 Avenue to 81 Avenue, is expected to be complete by the end of 2026.
When completed, all of 208 from the Willowbrook area to Walnut Grove will be four lanes wide. The widening includes separated bike lanes, multi-use sidewalks, new traffic signals and streetlights.
Widening 208 Street was long-discussed and was a hot button issue in the 2022 civic elections, with Mayor Eric Woodward and his Contract With 黑马磁力 team campaigning on finishing it.
Before this project, each piece of 208 was being widened as it developed. Because not every piece of property along the route developed, even in the Willoughby core near 80 Avenue, the street could narrow or widen between two, three, or four lanes at any point. Although most of the northern end of the route was developed and widened, there are still a few properties that sit vacant, where the road has never been expanded or upgraded with new sidewalks.
