by MOSES LEOS III
The change to a one-way format along Old U.S. Highway 81 (Old 81) in Kyle last month is not entirely welcomed by local merchants who line the thoroughfare. Unfinished construction and safety issues, some say, have kept customers away, hurting business.
One business affected by the road change is the Little Hair Shop, owned by Rose Natal. It sits directly in front of the main construction area but was blocked off when work on the road began.
“When (construction crews) began to dig out the dirt for the gutters, they brought in 30 or so big trucks to do that,” Natal said. “It was difficult to get through here.”
As a result, she said customers were put off. Natal attributes losses in her business to customers not realizing that the road in front of her salon was still in service.
“I lost half of what I make in a month,” Natal said. “Normally, I bring in anywhere from $3,500 to $4,200. In April, I maybe cleared $2,200.”
Yet Natal believes the change aided the traffic situation going into downtown. Prior to the access road changes, Old 81 was constantly clogged by traffic, which made merging onto the two-way street a challenge. However, a need to complete construction in front of her business is necessary.
“Well, we know what is going on; people now know where to enter,” Natal said. “However, there are many customers that are hesitant to come in. They are concerned the road is still unpaved. That is an issue. As long as they pave it, we’ll be okay. “
Further north on Old 81, near exit 217, sits Diana’s Hair Salon. Owner Diana Ramos said her business is not directly affected by the construction but the change to a one-way format made accessing her establishment difficult for customers.
“Some of my clients have complained about the faster traffic (on Old 81),” Ramos said. “When customers exit the highway to enter my business, they have to watch for the traffic that is going south along the access road. The exit is too close, and the cars along the access road are travelling too fast to make a safe right turn.”
While the change has solved some traffic issues near the exit, specifically the dangerous yield sign that was in place, Ramos maintains the road is still “scary” to travel on and has hurt her business.
“I have lost close to 30 percent of business since the roads changed,” Ramos said. “The first week, I lost nearly 50 percent of my business. It was really bad.”
Ramos harbors mixed feelings about the transition.
“I don’t know what to say about the new road,” Ramos said. “We need to wait until construction is done to see if it made a difference.”
But the change has not affected all businesses along Old 81.
Los Vega Mexican Restaurant, situated south of the construction zone, has not seen a large drop in customers, according to owner Esmeralda Alvarez.
“There has been some slowdown, but it does not affect our business,” Alvarez said. “We have our regular customers; they know how to get here.”
She said less traffic congestion and easier accessibility to her restaurant has kept business booming.
“I think it is good for business. It is more accessible and safer; I like it that way,” Alvarez said. “(Customers) are concerned that construction will affect our business, but that is not the case.”
According to Hays County, when completed, driveways that were once serviced by Old 81 will be extended to the new IH-35 frontage road. A new drainage system will improve conditions on the frontage road and the driveways. Traffic along Old 81 between Martinez Loop and Center Street will continue to service two-way traffic.
Construction is expected to be complete by fall 2013.
