Kyle’s first of five road bond projects is officially off the ground. Dignitaries gathered Oct. 7 at a groundbreaking ceremony for the extension of Marketplace Avenue—which will provide a link from downtown to the shopping centers off of FM 1626. Mayor Todd Webster said the extension of Marketplace will pay dividends for the city. “It’s very easy to see what difference this road is going to make to the people in our community because you can see how fast people are going to be able to get from this part of town to Old Town,” Webster said. The $4 million project will extend Marketplace south from its intersection with City Lights Drive to North Burleson Street, east of the Union Pacific Railroad. Among the features of the 0.7-mile project will be bridges at the crossings of Plum Creek and Spring Branch, drainage improvements and sidewalks. Construction is expected to be completed in July. Because of construction Burleson will be closed Oct. 10-12 from just north of Spring Branch Drive to the I-35 southbound frontage road. Only homeowners in the area are permitted to access Burleson via the I-35 frontage road during the closure period. Capital Excavation, which is constructing the Marketplace extension, will be installing storm drains and trenching for utilities during that time. Joe Brooks, director of business development for IE2 Construction, said the road extension will foster a higher quality of life in Kyle. He said Kyle is comparable to Round Rock 20 years ago. “Hold on to your hats,” Brooks said.