Prince road work moving along

CLOVIS — This just in: The road does not go on forever, and neither will the road construction on North Prince Street.

New Mexico Department of Transportation Public Information Officer Manon Arnett said Tuesday that construction is about 70 percent complete.

And motorists can tell there is progress because this week traffic flow changed.

Drivers have been moved into the northbound lanes while paving takes place for the southbound lanes from between Colonial Parkway and Llano Estacado, along with signing and striping work.

Arnett said shoulder widening — along with reconstruction of most of the sidewalk, curb and gutter — has already been completed.

The project is ahead of schedule, Arnett said. The work is expected to be finished this fall, weather permitting.

Arnett said work on the project began one year ago. NMDOT is investing about $10.5 million for the 4.7 miles of pavement rehabilitation, draining and Americans with Disabilities Act improvements.

While motorists have likely been frustrated by the decreased speed limit in the construction area, at least one business owner has seen a silver lining come from the road work.

"I've gotten more business off it," Cloud 9 Hair Salon Owner Olivia Fidanzato said of the construction. "I know that sounds funny, but with people having to drive slower I think more people notice the sign."

Fidanzato said that while the construction has not negatively affected her business, she will be happy when it's done in part due to the uptick in car accidents she has witnessed since the work began.

"I think everybody's ready for this to be over," Fidanzato said.