The long awaited I-90 Nagel Road Interchange is scheduled to officially open on Thursday, Dec. 20 at 10 a.m.

Avon Mayor Jim Smith and other dignitaries will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Attendees are asked to enter the event from the north, from the intersection of Chester Road and Nagel Road.

"After everyone clears out (from the ceremony), the road will be open to traffic," a source at the mayor's office said.

Project manager Don Damyanic said the road should be open by noon.

"Motorists are strongly urged to use caution while becoming familiar with the new lane assignments, signals and traffic patterns," Damyanic said.

An invitation-only reception will follow at Petitti’s Garden Center in Avon following the ceremony.

On Dec. 5, Smith announced the interchange would open by the end of the month.

Reports have been coming from the mayor’s office with regularity, including the opening of three roads last week, near the Interchange.

The groundbreaking for the interchange was Sept. 14, 2011. The concept was first discussed 16 years ago.

Smith expects state and local officials, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and NOACA officials to be present and speak as well.

The project, 16 years in the making, is opening approximately nine months ahead of schedule.  It involved a drawn out battle with city officials in Cuyahoga County, many of whom initially opposed the project.

“Don and (City Engineer) Rob (Knopf) have done a great job,” Smith told Patch last week. He also cited cooperation with ODOT and Mosser Construction with keeping the project ahead of schedule.