CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Construction continues on Everhart Road, part of a city bond project that is focused on a stretch from Alameda Street to SPID and also includes underground utility work.
However, the price of progress can sometimes put a strain on nearby businesses.
"This is terrible, I can't with this," Odie Lopez said stopping to talk to 3NEWS as she was driving out of the parking lot where her business is located.
Lopez is owner of Starstruck Boutique at 4541 Everhart Road near Staples St. It's a location she's been at for almost a year. But now, she said she's at her wits end.
"I worked so hard to build my name," she said holding back tears. "Yes I am [emotional] because it's just hard for a lot of local businesses. I love my community, I love my customers and I don't want to close."
For anyone who takes the drive down Everhart, you get it.
There's stop-and-go traffic, no-left-turn signs and you might have to wait a minute for a friendly driver to let you into traffic.
Sometimes, fixing our city's roads comes with unintended consequences.
"There's just confusion where to turn, how to get into our little shopping center," Lopez said. "I've had customers tell me, 'oh my God Odie, I don't know how to get into your location, where to turn.' "
3NEWS caught up with the City's director of Engineering Services, Jeff Edmonds, before our encounter with Lopez Friday afternoon. He gave us an update on the project and understands what owners are going through.
"It's an inconvenience, we know that and we appreciate the patience," he said.
Edmonds explained the contractor helps maintain access to all businesses which includes required signage.
"Sometimes it can be a little more difficult to see the signage and see where the driveways are, so we always require the contractor to place those signs," he said.
The construction is complex with standards that have to be met, even for traffic controls and signage. He showed 3NEWS over 50 pages dedicated to just that.
"There's an elaborate phasing plan on this that allows us to maintain utility service throughout construction, maintain drainage and phase it in, so you don't have to close any more of the road than you have too," Edmonds said.
The owner of Ziebart Detailing and Truck Accessories, also located along Everhart, is also wondering how much longer he'll have to endure the work.
"That hole has been in front of my shop for about three months, hard to get in and out people are still trying and we're still staying steady," he said.
Edmonds encourages business owners to reach out to the City to see how they can help minimize the impact.
"If anyone has concerns, see if we can make adjustments out there to try and mitigate those impacts," he said.
But, it will take a while.
The contract completion date is set for November of next year.
Edmonds said the end result will pay off and last decades.
"It's going to be a concrete pavement," he said. "We're designing to much higher standards nowadays so it should be a generation before they have to go through something like this again."
While Phase 1 and 1A are complete, the construction was a month behind schedule due to rain events, so crews have implemented phase 1C and phase 2 simultaneously to get back on schedule. As of right now crews are slightly ahead of schedule.