The city of Surprise has contacted businesses by Bell Road at Grand Avenue to help keep business running as usual. But in the first week of construction, some local shops are feeling left behind.
On Bell Road near an eyewear shop, construction workers start on overpass construction projected to take six to eight months.
One employee said business is fine at the shop because traffic is sent into its parking lot, before the closure.
But, to offset any possible business downturns, Surprise offered extra signage to places like Daniel’s Original Mexican Food, a family restaurant owned and operated by Daniel Avila.
The restaurant sits back from the main road at the very end of the shopping complex, so Avila said Surprise's sign offer is welcome.
But he said while he appreciates the effort, instead of his usual 60 customers a day, he saw 15.
Avila thinks the overpass is a good thing though and has already ordered four more signs from the city.
A slowdown in business isn’t the only problem. Avila said he’s seen an accident since Bell closed, and Surprise police reported nine collisions in the detour around the intersection over the weekend.
The Arizona Department of Transportation says it’s too early to tell where to address any traffic problems but has set aside $80,000 for extra law enforcement in the area.
