North Texas

Colleyville Businesses Say Nearby Construction Hurting Sales

A road construction project to widen a very busy section of Colleyville Boulevard, also known as Highway 26, is putting some businesses in the red this holiday season.

They say revenue is down and frustration is running high. Plus, it's looking like the project won't be done as early as projected.

For the last year, drivers on Highway 26 have seen plenty of orange cones.

"It's pretty crazy right now, and it's been going on for a long time," said driver Jessica Gilligan.

The nearly $40 million state project will widen a three-mile stretch between Brown Trail and John McCain Road.

It's already falling short of the 12-month deadline for Phase 1, and businesses say every delay is lost dollars and cents.

"We're down about 30 percent from where we were last year, and I know it's exactly because of the construction," said Robin Vanverstoep, owner of a consignment furniture store.

Vanverstoep says Christmas is usually her busiest season, but not this year. She lost two furniture deliveries, totaling $20,000, when the construction kept the delivery truck from getting into her parking lot.

"A nightmare. A lot of confusion for our customers. People don't think we are open," she said. "Our driveway has been cut down to a third of its original size. When you are going up and down 26 you can't even see the driveway any more."

The project to widen the road from four lanes to six plus a median was originally supposed to be finished by early 2019, but now town officials are saying weather and utility delays have moved the completion date toward the end of 2019.

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