Business Owners In Grapevine Worried About New Highway Construction Project
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GRAPEVINE (CBS11) - A major new construction project building connections between State Highways 121, 360 and 114 gets underway Monday.
The improvements were originally a part of the underfunded DFW Connector Project.
A spokesperson for the contractor says they'll work mostly at night and minimize the impact on nearby businesses.
But those who run Cultural Catch Seafood at 121 and William D. Tate Avenue which opened just three months ago, worry any traffic interruption might rock their financial boat since customers find the restaurant from the highway.
"I will ask them how did you hear about us," said Chef Calvin Joubert. "They'll say we were coming down 121, saw the sign, saw it is seafood and decided to give it a try."
The building that houses Chef Calvin Joubert's seafood restaurant has a bad history with highway construction. The Italian restaurant that was there before his closed after the last construction project choked off traffic.
Joubert worries the new highway project could hurt him too.
"I don't want to think about that," he said shaking his head. "I don't want to think about that."
The $61 million project will build new ramps connecting highways 121, 360 and 114. There will also be a new exit for William D. Tate Avenue.
"Hopefully it will increase the business long-term," Joubert said.
The project won't be finished until 2018. Joubert's business is fresh fish. And if business slows he worries he'll be stuck with a lot of seafood and fewer customers.
"I don't want to eat that much fish," Joubert laughed. "I love seafood but you can only put so much in your stomach."
Drivers can expect to see new barricades going up starting Monday until work is in full swing this fall.
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