WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) - A major roadway extension will soon take shape in Wichita Falls, with the new road providing access to the new Winco Foods supermarket.

Through an agreement approved by the Wichita Falls City Council, this public-private partnership is a win-win, not just for WinCo and the city of Wichita Falls but also for taxpayers and businesses in the surrounding areas.

The plans for this road expansion have been in the works for quite some time and with the store opening soon.

The partnership allows the full construction of the first phase that connects Kell to the south of Gregory Street.

“These funds have acquired over the last 30 years, it’s property tax set aside for a project that has been planned since the beginning of that tip district in 1995,“ Director of Development Terry Floyd said.

Due to a tax increment fund that has helped fund a series of developments, including the most recent $1.2 million expansion of South Wenonah Avenue in connection to WinCo foods, with WinCo set to open in August or September of this year, the city is preparing for changes in the area, while considering several factors ahead this project’s arrival.

“Some of the factors that we looked at were the width of the roadway provides for a center turn lane and traffic going north and south and then also projects going forward, so pedestrian traffic in the future or the neighborhoods could be accommodated. Then in addition to that, some of the concerns with drainage and all the other things that come in with the roadway are being done through this and obviously have been designed and planned for, “Floyd said.

“Regarding the roadway extension, I would like to thank the mayor and city council for considering this opportunity, I look forward to the connection to Maplewood, ” WinCo’s facilities project manager Todd Poirier said.

This project was the final piece of a series of developments over 30 years.

With the new road coming in the future, Floyd reminds the public that this step will continue to provide more opportunities down the line.

“As roadways in infrastructure are built in our community, that facilitates development as much as anything we can do as a city or the taxpayers, not only does it benefit the people traveling our residents and everyone who would utilize those facilities, but also the development itself and so any expansion of infrastructure we can make is always going to benefit businesses and the residents of our community, “Floyd said.

The project plans to be completed as soon as possible with plans of extending to maple wood later on down the line.