Publix won’t open its doors until January, but residents have been able to get their first taste of the new development with the opening of Panda Express last Thursday.

Not only did the new business open, it necessitated opening a portion of the Enzor Road connector and residents can now drive on the road for the first time.

Marcus Paramore, president of the Troy City Council, said he’s excited to see the development so close to opening and can’t wait for it to finally be open to the public.

“It’s a good day for Troy when this project is complete,” Paramore said. “It opens up a whole section of town that was previously closed off to housing and development. It’s going to be great to watch Troy grow and expand.”

Not only will the development be good for customers, it will also open the door for more retail jobs that will expand the market for entry level jobs for the younger demographic.

“More and more students in the university are in need of part-time employment while they work their way through college,” Paramore said. “A lot of these retail and eating establishments will help local young people find meaningful employment as they work their way up the ladder.”

Paramore also expects the connector road will be crucial to the city, opening room for residential, commercial and industrial growth that was not previously possible.

While many people are focusing on what the road brings as far as development though, Paramore also sees the new road as a great improvement on how the city is connected, specifically from the Sportsplex to Troy Regional Medical Center.

“The road project itself also opens opens movement from the Sportsplex to other sections of town without having to go out of the way,” Paramore said.

“That makes it a lot more convenient to go back and forth from the Sportsplex.

“The Sportsplex also serves as the master shelter, so a direct shot from recreation center to the hospital is very beneficial for everybody.

“ If there were a natural disaster and we were at the Sportsplex, there will be more direct access than there used to be.”

The last announced date for the Publix opening is January 18, although that date is still subject to change.

The road openings for both sections of the Enzor Road Connector Project have not yet been announced.