Part of the newly realigned FM 150 opened in early June in Kyle, and Hays County Precinct 1 Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe said the project is on time and under budget.

"I'm certain that we'll see better mobility in that area," Ingalsbe said. "We're certainly anticipating additional safety because of the construction of FM 150. The road is looking great, and I think that there are many people that are very happy that this project is now open."

Before the newly realigned road opened, drivers heading east on FM 150 from the west side of I-35 were forced to travel about 1,500 feet on the I-35 access road to reconnect with eastbound FM 150. Ingalsbe said the entire four-lane project should be completed by August.

When the final lanes of FM 150 are completed, the I-35 access roads will convert to one-way traffic from FM 150 to Yarrington Road. When those lanes are converted, all of the access roads on I-35 in Hays County will be one-way, putting an end to head-on collisions with vehicles entering and exiting the freeway.

The new road cost $7.07 million, and the cost was shared by the city of Kyle, which picked up $3.5 million, and the county, which partnered with TxDOT for the remainder. Under the terms of the bond project approved by voters in 2008, the county is eligible to receive a refund from TxDOT for a portion of the road cost based on how many cars travel on it.

The county and TxDOT combined the FM 150 realignment with a project that will construct 2.7 miles of new southbound I-35 access roads. The combined cost of the two projects was expected to be $18 million, and the county is eligible to receive a refund of up to $19.2 million.

Kyle City Manager Lanny Lambert said the city will not be eligible to receive a refund from TxDOT, but city leaders thought enough of the project that they were willing to spend $3.5 million on it.

"There is less congestion," Lambert said. "That intersection at FM 150 and the frontage road, that thing was a nightmare of congestion, and that ought to be all cleared up by now."

Ingalsbe said she is confident Kyle will reap a benefit in the form of economic development.

"I hope that we will get some prospects coming into the city of Kyle," Ingalsbe said. "It will open up the possibility of additional economic development to occur."