Mayor John Marchione cut the ribbon and took the first drive, Thursday morning, down the new stretch of Bear Creek Parkway, which was constructed to make a smooth connection between Leary Way and Redmond Way.

At a brief ceremony in the Bear Creek Parkway Plaza, located behind The Cleveland Condominiums, city staff, councilmembers and neighbors viewed “before and after” photos of the site, which was formerly a gravel lot, as well as photos and drawings of ongoing and upcoming construction projects downtown.

To implement the vision of “creating choice and connecting community” in downtown Redmond, public and private construction projects are increasing the variety of places to live, shop, dine and be entertained, as well as gathering places for residents, employees and visitors.

Marchione also stated that providing alternative ways to get around downtown Redmond — on bike or foot or using public transit — and tying Old Town Redmond and new development together, are important pieces of the downtown plan.

The next phase toward instituting a downtown street grid system will extend 161st Avenue Northeast from Bear Creek Parkway to Redmond Way. Marchione said the completion of the Bear Creek Parkway extension was a critical turning point in that direction.

The 161st Avenue Northeast Extension is expected to take place between April 2010-June 2011.

Maps and details about current and planned downtown Redmond construction projects are included on the city’s Web site, www.redmond.gov. Questions can be answered by calling the Downtown Construction Hotline at (425) 556-2450 or e-mailing downtownconstruction@redmond.gov.