Drivers can now use the eastern portion of Rockhill Parkway as part of their commute and can expect further construction as the city of Frisco plans to continue to expand the roadway into six lanes.

The $45 million project extends from CR 26 to Coit Road, and the portion that extends from Dallas Parkway to Preston Road is now open with six lanes and a bridge.

The section from Dallas Parkway to CR 26 is substantially complete with six lanes. However because of the construction being done on U.S. 380 by the Texas Department of Transportation, this portion will not be open in July as planned. An opening date has not been determined.

The portion from Preston Road to Coit Road is open to the traffic but is only two lanes. The design phase will begin in August to expand it into six lanes. Construction is expected to begin in between July-September of 2017.

Rockhill Parkway will be a major thoroughfare in Frisco, said Brian Moen, assistant director of transportation for Frisco.

Construction to the roadway was done in anticipation of future development surrounding Rockhill Parkway, Moen said. Neighborhoods and urban centers are zoned for that area according to the city’s future land-use plan.

“We want to be able to support those types of development, and we previously did not have much infrastructure like water, sewer or roadway up there, which makes it more difficult to develop in that area,” Moen said. “So by getting this done, we can support the development that will start to occur in that area.”

Moen said the roadway will be more accessible to not only vehicles but pedestrians also.

“We will have pedestrian accommodations set up and tailor more to the environment that the roadway is in,” Moen said.

The bridge on Rockhill Parkway includes eight foot sidewalks and light installations. Moen also said the bridge was designed to allow for a future street to run underneath the bridge.

According to the city’s comprehensive plan, there is potential for a future rail station.

The rail station would be located along the rail line which runs underneath the bridge.

“We wanted to add some aesthetic treatments to the bridge as well, because we’re thinking ahead of the potential activity under the bridge like we’ve seen under other bridges,” Moen said.

According to the city’s thoroughfare plan Rockhill Parkway will eventually extend all the way to FM 423.