With a snip of the giant scissors and flashes of many cameras, the side road linking Paul Renaud Boulevard to Sommers Road was officially opened Wednesday, Nov. 6. The ribbon-cutting was held in the Liberty athletic field parking lot at 10 a.m.

Among those in attendance of the occasion was the mayor of O’Fallon Bill Hennessy, city administrator Mike Sanderson, many O’Fallon councilmen, along with city engineer Wade Montgomery.

The band helped commemorate the occasion with some songs, and Principal Nelson and Hennessy cut the ribbon with the huge scissors, and the crowd clapped as the road was officially opened.  

The mayor looked at the opening like a huge step for O’Fallon.

“This is a vision for growth for O’Fallon,” Hennessy said. 

The opening of the road was in memory of Paul Renaud, a former O’Fallon mayor, whose term ended in 2005. 

Not only will the road be a huge help for the community, but it will also be a huge help to the school as well. 

Nelson especially appreciates the new road.

“I have four kids myself, two that are drivers, so I understand how teenagers can be behind the wheel,” Nelson said.  

And student drivers also love the new road, especially students that park back in the athletic parking lot.    

Sarah LePage, a sophomore and new student driver who parks in the back lot, especially loves the new addition to the lot. 

“I literally cried tears of joy,” Lepage said. “This is going to be a huge help to students and parents.”