Construction divides businesses from motorists on stretch

Piles of dirt, heavy equipment and lanes marked with orange cones have made it difficult to spot driveways for businesses on a stretch of Colleyville Boulevard, a situation that will not be entirely remedied until next year.

Some driveways to businesses have closed at times, as the contractor relocates water and sewer lines.

On the Grapevine portion of the Hwy. 26 reconstruction, workers are finishing up the newly widened road with landscaping and other detail work.

Colleyville's portion is expected to be completed in 2014. One of the biggest pieces is a new bridge over Bear Creek. Workers have been drilling deep to install piers for it in recent weeks.

Trevor Connole, an employee at Scooter's Coffee & Yogurt, 7171 Colleyville Blvd., said the construction has cut business to a third of what it was before.

Randy Johnson, owner of Bear Creek Spirits and Wine, 7101 Colleyville Blvd., said he has seen some effect on business, and has not been able to put up his monument sign as planned. But he said the city of Colleyville has done a good job of communicating with businesses.

The city is continuing to help with its Close Buy program in which customers use a card at local businesses and get discounts—10 percent off merchandise, $20 off a spa treatment and many others. Customers can pick up the cards at member businesses and at City Hall, 100 Main St. For details and listing of member businesses, visit www.colleyvilleclosebuy.com.

The six-mile project includes rebuilding Hwy. 26 from Brumlow Avenue/Pool Road almost to John McCain Road, widening it to six lanes and adding raised curb medians and left turn bays. AUI Contractors is building the $11.4 million Texas Department of Transportation project.

Update: This story was updated on July 17 to clarify that the six-mile project includes a portion of Hwy. 26 from Brumlow/Pool Road to John McCain Road.