GRAYSON COUNTY, TX -- The highway 289 extension in Grayson County officially opened giving drivers a new short cut from Dallas to Lake Texoma. But, it could also mean major development in that part of the county. Deeda Payton reports.

The highway 289 expansion project has been in the works for much of the decade touted as a quick route from Lake Texoma to Dallas and a great way to market the North Texas Regional Airport. Now that the highway is finished, the new project is developing the area.

Highway 289, it's expanded, it's open, it's a smooth ride, but completing the project wasn't an easy road to hoe. "I'm glad just glad for the construction to be over."

Many residents along 289 lost land, acres of land, in some places 20 acres or more. "I know a lot of landowners were not happy with the push to get it through and they didn't understand why it was going to go nowhere north, but it's progress and I've just learned to live with it."

Not everyone feels the need for a connecting road from Pottsboro to Southmayd. But, for the North Texas Regional Airport, this could just be the yellow brick road to development.

Now that 289 is open, the airport is hopeful that new industries and aviation companies to the airport, to the west side. They only problem is there are no signs right now pointing you to North Texas Regional Airport. "We should have signs and billboards up by summertime," said Airport Director, Mike Shahan.

Right now you have to take Refuge or Plainview Road to get to the airport, but highway 289 does open 200 acres up on the west side for development. Just last week the airport installed water and sewer lines to the land to make it more attractive to buyers. "200 acres, it could take 20 or 30 years or as little as five, depends on the demand."

If marketing the land around the airport is anything like the construction of the highway, it will be years of planning and hard work, but it could be well worth it.

Deeda Payton, KTEN News.