A portion of major roadway in Socorro will change names soon and also get a makeover in the next couple of months.

To Socorro residents like Pilo Morales, the roadway is known as Buford Road. His shop has been here since 1953 but technically he's on Horizon Boulevard. The street name changes from Buford Road to Horizon Boulevard once you pass Alameda Avenue.

"I don't know who changed the name from Buford Road to Horizon but it's always been Buford," said Morales.

Last week city leaders decided to give the roadway one name. They chose to stick to Buford Road

Socorro spokesman Dave Garcia said the name change should have happened years ago when the city limit moved.

"We're beginning to pull Socorro together and of course the ideal way to do that is with streets. Originally the city of Socorro ended at North Loop but during our last annexation we actually went all the way to the freeway. At that point our intent was to change it to Buford; however, one step led to another and in the last five years it never got done," said Garcia.

The address number will remain the same and the city is working with the Post Office and utility companies on the change.

Residents will receive a notice in the mail over the next couple of days.

"Everything will be a slow transition. It won't be just one day you live on Horizon, the next day you live on Buford," he said.

Not only will the name change but the stretch of road between Alameda Avenue and North Loop Drive will get a makeover in the spring.

"I've been working with city representatives on this for a while. We've been talking about it since 1993 and I don't know what seemed to be the hold up till now it looks like it's going to happen and it's about time," said Morales.

The Texas Department of Transportation will add a lane in both directions along with sidewalks and lighting. The project will cost $7.5 million and take a year and a half to complete, officials said.