STAFF REPORT

Local government officials will cut the ribbon on an eastward extension of Kyle Parkway at the intersection of Interstate-35 Friday afternoon.

The extension offers Kyle residents and visitors a more convenient route to the growing intersection, which is quickly becoming Kyle’s economic hub.

In August 2006, the city opened a 3.1-mile extension of FM 1626 from FM 2770 (Jack C. Hays Trail) running down through the north end of Kyle and connecting to I-35 two miles north of downtown. City officials christened the road “Kyle Parkway.”

The city expected the four-lane divided highway to create a thoroughfare for economic development. The first sign of such life occurred last summer, when H-E-B Plus! opened a 150,000-square-foot location to anchor the Kyle Marketplace strip center.

The ribbon cutting marks a new phase for the road, which has been extended from I-35 to the east. The road will lead to a 210-bed Seton Hospital, which will open in about a year. Between Kyle Marketplace, a retail development associated with the hospital and an additional development anchored by Kohl’s and Target, the intersection of Kyle Parkway and I-35 will feature more than two million square feet of retail.

The ribbon cutting will take place at 1:30 p.m. at the Seton Hospital construction area. Among those on hand will be Kyle Mayor Miguel Gonzalez, City Manager Tom Mattis, Hays County Precinct 2 Commissioner Jeff Barton and other representatives from the Kyle Parkway project.

RELATED IN THE MERCURY:

• Kyle council passes major retail agreement | June 3, 2008
• Kyle says new boom coming – in a year | August 26, 2008
• Kyle to finally post parkway speed limit | October 21, 2008
• Kyle council stalls Dacy Lane project | April 9, 2008
• Clearing up Kyle’s closing time | January 9, 2008