The city of Kyle's first bond-funded road project is running into budget issues, and citizens were given a chance to voice their concerns Aug. 26.

The city held a public stakeholders meeting at Kyle Fire Station No. 2 on Bunton Creek Road, a pothole-pocked road that leads to Lehman High School from I-35.

Susan Novak, who lives in the neighborhood near Bunton Creek Road, said the project should be fast-tracked because it is dangerous to drive on.

"They are fixing to bottom out, and there is going to be a wreck," Novak said. "I don't know how much a life or two is worth, but you all need to fix this fast."

With $5 million budgeted for the project, Bunton Creek Road was set to see improvements including widening to as many as five lanes for a stretch. Other segments of the road would be widened to four and three lanes. Only two lanes currently exist on the road.

Since preliminary estimates provided by LJA Engineering, the contractor on the project, show that the project would cost $1.6 million more than what was budgeted, City Council members have suggested decreasing the scope of improvements, for example widening the road to three lanes at most.

City Engineer Leon Barba said at an Aug. 19 City Council meeting that right-of-way acquisition needs could account for as much as $1.2 million depending on the design the city decides to use. Project Manager Jo Ann Garcia said the budget for property acquisition is still being determined.

The city would have to acquire about 4.5 acres of land to construct the road according to the current parameters.

The city is accepting public comments on the project through Sept. 23.

The third and final stakeholders meeting is slated for 7 p.m. on Sept. 9 at Kyle Fire Station No. 2., 150 Bunton Creek Road.