CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — You could call it the price of progress.
Small business owners along a busy area of town where road work is ongoing say it's taking a bite out of their livelihood.
We're talking about the construction underway at Everhart Road and Alameda Street.
Minerva Rivera owns The Twisted Rose antique shop along Everhart.
The business owner has had a front row seat to the construction for the last several months and said access has been tough for customers.
"I've had several customers not knowing how they are coming in or how they are going to exit, sometimes to the left they can't come in or out because of traffic that makes it hard on them as well," Rivera said.
The construction ramped up before the holidays and is focused mostly on underground utility work which includes water, wastewater and storm water.
While business owners say the city has placed signs on construction barrels pointing to their direction, for the driver, it's not the easy to figure out exactly where to turn into the parking lot.
Business owners say customers are just not willing to deal with the confusion or the headache and are passing them up.
"It is definitely hurting business for myself and everybody here," Rivera said.
Across the intersection in the Town and Country Shopping Center on Alameda, Colton Bartel, a graduate gemologist at Susann's Custom Jewelers has heard it all from customers.
"It's unfortunate that it started right before Christmas," Bartel said. "That it was difficult, rough, some called to see if we were even open."
Bartel explained the access issue at the intersection.
"That being a main artery to our area is really difficult and that they've cut down traffic on Alameda to two lanes as well, and construction across the street on the new Stripes, all the trucks going through here is just beating the road up," he said.
Bartel said his family business might not be as impacted as others, but that it's still discouraging
"The biggest hassle, there are certain directions you can turn, and it seems like everyone wants to turn going back toward SPID and you can't, holds up traffic," he said.
As construction continues they want the community to know they're here and open for business.
"I'm ready to get confirmation on how much longer we will be having to deal with this in front of the store," said Rivera.
The Everhart Road project began Oct. 2023 and is currently on Phase 1 (the two south bound lanes from Alameda Street to Staples Street) and should last until May 2024 depending on weather and unknown field conditions.
Phase 2 (from Staples Street to Alameda Street north bound lanes) is anticipated to begin December 2024 depending on weather and field conditions and should take around four to five months to complete.
The city said it is important to note that project timelines are often subject to changes, so these dates are tentative.
The city told 3NEWS some businesses have voiced their concerns of limited access to their businesses. The city said it has accommodated by putting extra traffic signage and maintaining driveway entrances under the current construction circumstances.
In response to some businesses reporting the construction is having a financial impact, the city told 3NEWS they try to accommodate all residents and businesses throughout the project and that they appreciate their patience and understanding.
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