Ribbon Cut on East Hawkins Parkway Extension

LONGVIEW � The City of Longview hosted a ribbon cutting Monday for the opening of the East Hawkins Parkway extension. The approximately half-mile stretch is a three-lane road connecting Highway 259 and Tryon Road. The extension is now open for use. In addition to connecting Hawkins Parkway to Tryon Road, the new roadway provides access to several properties currently under construction, including an assisted living facility, independent living facility, and apartments. The road extension was the result of a developer participation agreement between the City of Longview and Abby Development. Without the developer agreement, the developer would not have been required to build a road this size, according to officials. To accommodate future traffic, the City of Longview agreed to pay for the construction of a third lane and a sidewalk by reimbursing the developer up to $565,000 over a five-year period.