Commuters on Everhart Road have been dealing with construction delays already because of the Corona Drive project.
Some time next year, it’s Everhart itself that will be torn up. Neighborhood business owners are cautiously optimistic.
“I think it’s a road that’s in desperate need of revising, it needs to be updated,” said Jesse Mendoza.
Mendoza has owned Comics Plus on Everhart near South Padre Island Drive for four years. He says traffic backups make it hard for customers to get to his shop.
“There’s a lot of traffic congestion on it, and at times it makes it extremely hard to get in and out of the shopping center,” said Mendoza.
Mendoza’s comic shop, and other businesses, are due for some relief. Plans are in the works to rebuild Everhart between Holly Rd. and SPID. But before the road can be rebuilt, city officials want the public’s opinion at a open house next week.
“We’re not ready to go into the construction phase quite yet, so we really want that feedback from the public,” said Michelle Villarreal-Leschper, City engineering Department spokesperson. “Things that maybe they have issues with when they’re travelling that street.”
Mendoza says he’s seen plenty of problems for drivers on Everhart, and many of those problems affect his business.
“Sometimes I have people that come in that may not have trouble getting to our store, but when it comes time to leave, it’s hard with all the backed up traffic,” said Mendoza.
He’s also concerned about the Everhart project overlapping with the nearby Corona construction project.
“With both of them going on, it would really diminish our traffic flow,” said Mendoza. “We need access from somewhere, and if we had Corona already done and people able to access us through that side, it would be much better.”
There’s good news for Mendoza. City officials say the Corona construction project will be finished before the Everhart project starts.
So when will Everhart start? All officials could say was “some time in 2019.”
