The city of Kyle continued on the road to improved connectivity with City Council’s March 15 approval of the city’s transportation master plan.

The plan guides long-term transportation projects, with a focus on road construction and alternative transportation modes such as bike lanes and sidewalks, the latter of which the city is requiring with all-new roads, wherever possible.

“People will judge the condition of a city by the state of its roads,” City Manager Scott Sellers said.

Among the plan’s recommendations is a call to widen Opal Lane from two to four lanes and extend the road over I-35.

Sellers said based on conversations he has had with the Texas Department of Transportation, that project will not happen for at least 10 years.

In the short term, the city is focusing on five road projects funded through a 2013 bond.

Mayor Todd Webster said one of his first priorities after being elected in 2014 was to speed construction of the projects.

“When I was walking blocks, [these projects] were the No. 1 issue [I heard about],” he said. “We’ve moved as fast as we can, but that’s not fast enough for anyone.”