West Avenue has been extended to West Cesar Chavez Street ahead of the New Central Library opening this fall.[/caption]

The city of Austin on Friday opened a new road extension in downtown Austin.

West Avenue, which runs perpendicular to West Cesar Chavez Street, has been extended to create an intersection with Cesar Chavez.

The roadway extension was done as part of a series of improvements before opening the New Central Library, which is set to open in the fall. Other initiatives include the design and construction of a new bridge over Shoal Creek at Second Street and the extension of Second Street from Shoal Creek to West Avenue.

Previously, West ran south from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard but ended at Third Street.

With the extension, a traffic signal was activated at the intersection to ensure safe and efficient flow of traffic, according to a city news release.