The traffic headache that thousands experience every day through the Denver Tech Center at I-25 and Arapahoe Road is going to get worse before it gets better.
Road crews are set to start on a new $66 million project Monday night.
Crews will begin by re-striping and realigning the traffic lanes, setting up concrete barriers on I-25 south just north of the Arapahoe Road exit, an official with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) said.
The interstate will be reduced to one lane during the overnight hours as crews plan to work between the hours of 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
Business owners in the area are concerned about a reduction in business as a result of the work that will also stretch onto Arapahoe road.
“I just heard about it on Friday and it wasn't good," said Chey Hawkins, who owns Yazoo BBQ. “I'm really going to probably have to take a look and see how we feel it hitting us.”
Area businesses both small and large are hoping impact to their bottom line during the lunch rush is minimal.
“I've talked to two other Chik-fil-A operators that have had similar scenarios and they saw a double digit decrease over the year and I have no idea what to expect,” said Craig Goetttsche, who owns a Chik-fil-A nearby the road construction.
But not everybody believes the road work is a bad thing.
“If you want some growth, you want the jobs, you want the tax base so your kids get a better education you're going to have some inconveniences, but in the long run or not to long run, the next couple of years, look at the benefit you get," said Greg Draper
The road work is set to be complete in early 2018.
The work is expected to ease congestion through the area as well as increase safety for drivers.
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