UPDATES: Construction projects continue across Abilene

ABILENE, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) – From Buffalo Gap Road to Cypress Street, construction can seem never-ending in the Key City, but many of the major projects have hit milestones.

The intersection of Buffalo Gap and Rebecca Lane saw a traffic change at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, shifting traffic to a new pattern south of Rebecca Lane. The two-year project is set to finish this year, and Leslie Bivens, Owner of Life of Pie, told KTAB/KRBC that the loss of business has been frustrating, but she sees the light at the end of the tunnel.

“It has been pretty tough on business, not just ours, but all the businesses in our strip. About two weeks ago, they closed from Buffalo Gap to Ridgemont on Rebecca, and it probably cut our business that Saturday by half, and the parking lot was a ghost town,” Bivens said. “We’re excited for the city to have growth, and we know that any of the construction just definitely means growth for Abilene, and we definitely support that.”

Meanwhile, the Cypress Street project is reaching the halfway point of phase one. Kate Alvarez, the Downtown Coordinator, said they are moving right on schedule.

“Our progress has been smooth, and it looks like we will reach our phase one deadline of the first of October, so part of knowing that is seeing that concrete come down,” Alvarez said.

The city also expects commercial additions, such as a Braum’s on Judge Ely Boulevard and a renovated Whataburger on Danville Drive. Braum’s public relations director indicated that an exact opening date has not been set, but they are aiming to have everything operational by the end of the year.

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