The ramp reversal project has led to a reversal of fortunes for businesses in the area. One business owner says it’s a road he’s been down before.
Clawson’s Music has called the SPID access between Ayers and Kostoryz home for 55 years. However lately, getting to one of the city’s biggest music stores hasn’t been so easy.
Bob Clawson, the owner of Clawson’s Music on SPID, says recent roadwork and detours outside of his store are affecting business.
“People don’t come down this way anymore because of the construction,” Clawson said.
But it’s a tune he’s pretty familiar with. About a decade ago, the city widened SPID and put a large, cement wall outside of his store.
“They put that big wall up there one time, and it slowed everything down,” Clawson said.
Clawson says his regular customers are still stopping by, but new customers are a different story.
“They see the sign,” Clawson said, “and they say ‘oh my goodness, well I’d like to stop in there but I can’t get off!'”
Although roadwork and construction has brought a few sour notes to the music store and other nearby businesses, Clawson and his customers see the roadwork as progress.
“I’m an optimist,” Clawson said. “I hope that it increases our business. Some people say it will, and some people say it won’t.”
Clawson’s Music customer, Shana Fuller, is also staying hopeful about the construction.
“So whenever I see a construction zone or I’m driving through it, I feel like this is going to be great when it’s done,” Fuller said.
TxDot officials say the ramp reversal project will be completed in 2021.
