Buffalo Gap Road construction affects residents & local business
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) — On Thursday morning, new traffic lights were installed at the intersection of Buffalo Gap Road and Robertson Drive, stalling traffic and finishing part of a multi-million dollar project.
Abilene begins the new year with major road construction on Buffalo Gap Road
According to TxDOT, the FM 89 project was identified as a top priority for pedestrian and traffic safety. The project was first introduced in 2016, and construction has been in progress for more than two years, installing traffic lights, a sound barrier, and a new drainage system.
The sound barrier walls block off the neighborhood near the Buffalo Gap Road and Robertson Drive intersection. Abilene resident Deb Smith said she was not expecting the size of the wall and sees both the good and bad aspects of the changes made just feet away from her porch.
“It’s like 14 feet tall. It’s freaking me out; I can’t see the sunsets anymore,” Smith said. “I think the I think the lights will help some. But they’ve really got to pay close attention. They had a lot of break-ins on our street… it’s because they couldn’t be seen from Buffalo Gap. But now they really will not be able to be seen.”
UPDATE: Buffalo Gap Road construction to be completed fall 2024
The construction consists of a barrier to the main entryways and lanes, affecting local businesses nearby as well.
Sean Alvis, owner of Abby’s Bottle and Brews, told KTAB/KRBC he has seen the decline firsthand.
“We felt a heavy impact. It’s been quite a sting,” Alvis said. “It’s hard to blame them, but they don’t want to face the traffic that they have to deal with coming here when they have an alternative.”
Right across the street from Alvis, there is one place that looks like a ghost town during lunch hour. Adrian Lopez, owner of Oscar’s Mexican Restaurant #2, said he has had to make difficult decisions because of the difficulty of accessing the restaurant from construction.
“We [typically] have 23 employees, and right now, it’s only six employees,” Lopez said. When I stay really busy, you can see 500 customers a day, but right now, it’s 80 or a hundred.”
Abilene drivers complain as they’re slowed down by multiple construction projects
TxDot said it recognizes the frustration of residents but said the end result will be worth the wait.
The project is approximately 70% complete, with a projected completion time of October 2024.
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