Two new miles of the Westside Parkway spanning from Allen Road to Stockdale Highway are now open in west Bakersfield.

City manager Alan Tandy says the extended freeway will make travel easier for commuters.

“There are a lot of people to the far west that have to drive up Stockdale Highway to Allen Road – jump on that interchange to get on the Westside Parkway,” he said. “Now they’ll be able to go directly home.”

The city will now focus on purchasing the 250 properties needed to build the Centennial Corridor, which would connect Highway 58 to the Westside Parkway at Truxtun Avenue. Tandy says 99 of homes have been bought so far.

– Anthony Pollreisz