BRYAN, Texas — Orange cones and caution signs have filled up the roads throughout Bryan-College Station since construction began four months ago.
Back in February, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) began constructing raised median barriers along Texas Avenue in Bryan. It was meant to be a five-mile stretch to improve safety for all modes of travel on one of the most commonly driven roads in the BCS area.
However, residents living around the chaos, like 30-year long resident Lee Cross, aren't exactly convinced the changes are for the better.
"It's absolutely been a nightmare," said Cross. "It's just pure nonsense."
Residents and business owners expressed their grievances on how the construction project hasn't exactly been driving them happy.
"It's pandemonium," Cross said. "You know people are, we're so used to our ways in driving we can turn here to go to this business well now that they've built these new medians you've got to find a new way. "
The construction has meant that to go to an everyday destination in the area like work, the store, or even Whataburger, you have to plan your route accordingly.
"If I wanna go get a tattoo at the the tattoo thing, I got to go three or four blocks," said Cross.
Mint Tinting owner, Clayton Summerall, said the construction is turning what used to be quick trips into an extended commute.
"It turned a five minute drive into a 30-minute drive, every day," said Summerall.
Despite frustrations, TxDOT Public Information Officer Bobby Coldwell says that they've seen a reduction in crashes by 65 percent since construction began.
For everyday drivers, however, the project is bringing on more than just barriers in the road and daily travel.
"We're over at 108 Bizzell street we do the window tinting--Mint Tinting--and it's affecting traffic as far as our customers are struggling to get in," said Summerall.
Despite the chaos of construction TxDOT tells KAGS that in the long run, the project is committed to this benefiting all in the BCS. It is expected to be completed later in the summer.
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