HURST, Texas — A&B Muffler owner Stephen Riley says the nearly two years of construction on the stretch of Pipeline Road in Hurst in front of his business has felt like forever.
“Forever the noise, the dust, the continuous traffic problems getting in and out of the business,” Riley said. “What happens is they start and they finish and then two weeks later they come back and dig it all up again.”
Moody PC owner Devon Gladney feels the same way in the adjacent shopping complex.
“My taxes are up, my income is down and there's no end in sight,” Gladney said.
They’re two different business owners, with one shared problem.
“The construction has made business slow down to a crawl because people just don't want to come through here,” Gladney said.
This project is Phase 3 of a 4-part project to overhaul the Pipeline major thoroughfare through the City of Hurst.
“You've got two lanes and actually they should be going slow,” Riley said. “But the people go faster and it's dangerous.”
Work on the $5.6 million project began in early 2022. Improvements include widening the road, upgrading the storm drains, water lines, and sewer lines, and adding medians and sidewalks from Lorean Branch Bridge to Harrison Lane.
It was supposed to wrap in December 2023, but it’s still not done five months later.
“We understand their frustrations,” said city of Hurst spokeswoman Kara McKinney. “We’re dealing with a variety of utility companies, contractors, subcontractors, it’s definitely a team effort and delays have been coming up.”
But the city is promising the end is in sight.
“They told me the end of May, but I'm doubtful,” said Riley.
The city told WFAA it’s looking more like the end of June, pending any more hold-ups. And businesses are holding on to hope that that is the case, especially for their bottom lines.