CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — New curbs, sidewalks and streets have all added up to a much-needed facelift on Everhart Road. Crews began construction on the project back in September of 2019; and since then, barriers, cones and traffic have become the norm.
“I know it’s there for improvement but it hurts the businesses and it’s hard for them to survive,” said Love 2 Ride Co-owner Eli Villarreal.
Villarreal said it was a dream to expand his business, which is why he chose to have a new location on Everhart Road. However, due to the construction and the pandemic he had to focus on staying at the Corpus Christi Trade Center.
“And I hated to leave I really did but it came a time to where you know your pockets are getting dry and we’re just a small business,” said Villarreal.
Other business owners on Everhart say during this time, it’s a challenge to keep their doors open.
“People just don’t want to deal with traffic flow so they just don’t come down the street anymore,” said owner of Middle East Market & Deli Restaurant Mitchel Hamauei.
Hamauei said because of the ongoing construction and global pandemic, he has lost up to 60 percent of revenue for his restaurant. He said they had to adjust to make sure customers feel protected.
“We just want to offer a free and safe environment for the customer so they feel that when they come to our store that we do care about our customers,” said Hamauei.
The city told KRIS 6 News that at this time they do not have any programs for construction reimbursement. However, the City of Corpus Christi Engineering Services said they understand the impact of all the work.
“We’re here to advocate for them you know, obviously construction is a brutal process at times and it can be very impactful to them,” said assistant director of Corpus Christi Engineering Services Brett Van Hazel.
Van Hazel said that the city has had many hurdles to overcome as they try to finish up construction, citing multiple hurricanes and heavy rains that have passed through.
The City of Corpus Christi says they anticipate to have construction completed by April of 2021.
