(KCEN) -- It's a project the city of Temple sees as an important step toward the future.
The idea of expanding Northwest Loop 363 off I-35 has been in the works for decades.
Now, the forty five million dollar project is finally taking off.
It's the single largest capital improvement project the city has ever taken on.
But local leaders say the price tag is worth it to help Temple grow for the future.
Temple Mayor Bill Jones said, "If trucks get bogged down, if companies see that they can't get the goods and movement that they need through the community, they won't come here. We have to continue to grow and continue to invest in this community."
As construction on I-35 picks up, the loop will serve as an important way to relieve congestion on the highway.
