City and county officials celebrated the grand opening of Bagdad Road in Leander with a ribbon cutting Aug. 16.

Construction, which began in 2017, widened Bagdad from Hero Way West to San Gabriel Parkway in an effort to meet increased traffic demands in the rapidly growing city, according to a statement from the city.

The $9.3 million project was jointly funded by the city and Williamson County.

The project included widening Bagdad from two to five lanes, putting in sidewalks and street lights, and adding 12,000 feet of storm sewer pipe, according to the city’s statement.

Contractors also completed a hike-and-bike trail from Hero Way West to Collaborative Way, extending a pedestrian connection from Glenn High School to Cedar Park.