A lot of people who are used to heading down Colonial Boulevard are frustrated this weekend with crews closing lanes and ramps, but they’re hopeful this work will make their drive easier in the future.
“I think once they get it complete, the little inconvenience over the weekend hopefully will make a big difference,” said driver Stacey Higgins.
Crews are working along Colonial Boulevard, from Six Mile Cypress Parkway, all the way to Forum Boulevard.
Both the north and southbound ramps from Colonial Boulevard to I-75 are also completely closed.
“Well, it's sucked. It's been going for, what, four years? I mean, it'd be nice to get it finally finished. I mean, it's been a mess driving back and forth. Colonial's been awful. You never know where and where the road is,” explained Jay Carney, who owns Kid to Kid, a children’s clothing store off Colonial Boulevard.
Business owners like Carney said they're afraid these closures will stop customers from shopping, so they have come up with incentives to get you to take the long way.
“I'm probably going to do a colonial construction sale and just do like 20-24% off the entire store, just as, you know, get people to come this way,” Carney said.
During this weekend's closure, crews are working on lane restriping, installing signs and putting in traffic signals.
The I-75 ramps are expected to open back by Sunday at 2 p.m. The diverging diamond is expected to be done by mid-November.