As Service Road Conversion is Set to Begin, Local Restaurant Expects More Business
By: Kristin Anderson
Updated: July 10, 2012
"We are getting ready to begin our frontage road conversion along i-20 from pine street to loop 322," said public information officer for TxDOT Abilene Darah Waldrip.
As the start date gets closer, TxDot is doing it's best to keep the effect on businesses as low as possible.
"We are trying to work as closely as we can with the businesses to try to minimize the impact. We do realize that construction, especially a project like this that is going to take as long as it will, we do realize that that does have an effect on the traffic and people trying to get to those businesses," said Waldrip.
TxDot has already published a map of alternative routes for drivers. The purpose: to keep businesses on those service roads fully functional. But businesses like Walker's Crossing, who are on those alternative routes, hope the increase in traffic will increase their business.
"We're making it. But any increase is always a bonus and a plus," said Tina Walker, owner and chef at the restaurant.
Tina opened her restaurant in December, and with the upcoming detour in front of her shop, she's hoping the multiplied drivers will give her more mouths to feed.
"Somebody had done a study on ambler before and said that about 25,000 cars go on this street every day, both ways. So if they could even increase too 50,000, that would be amazing. So, we're looking for more traffic to pass through here," she said.
And the long-length of the project will help the new restaurant grow.
"Hopefully our roots will be grounded in by that time, we'll be better known and well established," said Walker. "And so, we're looking forward to the future."
The construction is set to start at the end of august, and drivers can head to the TxDOT website and twitter for updates.
As the start date gets closer, TxDot is doing it's best to keep the effect on businesses as low as possible.
"We are trying to work as closely as we can with the businesses to try to minimize the impact. We do realize that construction, especially a project like this that is going to take as long as it will, we do realize that that does have an effect on the traffic and people trying to get to those businesses," said Waldrip.
TxDot has already published a map of alternative routes for drivers. The purpose: to keep businesses on those service roads fully functional. But businesses like Walker's Crossing, who are on those alternative routes, hope the increase in traffic will increase their business.
"We're making it. But any increase is always a bonus and a plus," said Tina Walker, owner and chef at the restaurant.
Tina opened her restaurant in December, and with the upcoming detour in front of her shop, she's hoping the multiplied drivers will give her more mouths to feed.
"Somebody had done a study on ambler before and said that about 25,000 cars go on this street every day, both ways. So if they could even increase too 50,000, that would be amazing. So, we're looking for more traffic to pass through here," she said.
And the long-length of the project will help the new restaurant grow.
"Hopefully our roots will be grounded in by that time, we'll be better known and well established," said Walker. "And so, we're looking forward to the future."
The construction is set to start at the end of august, and drivers can head to the TxDOT website and twitter for updates.
