EP Country Club says its losing businesses because drivers can’t find club

Drivers in El Paso’s Upper Valley say the area’s ongoing road-construction project has become a traffic nightmare and at least one business claims it is costing them lots of money in lost revenue.

The El Paso Country Club says its catering business has taken a hit to the tune of $150,000 in lost revenue since the construction project started in August 2013, country club general manager Andy Khatami said.

Khatami says party planners have been canceling their scheduled events out of fear their guests could get lost in the confusing detours on their way to the club.

The club is also concerned that potential new members have been steering clear of the construction, hindering its prospective membership numbers.

“The people who come to the club are prospect members, who we depend on because we always grow our membership numbers,” Khatami said. “So we need the outside to get to us, for us to showcase our facilities and the amenities that we offer. But unfortunately, there is no signage and there is no way for them to get to us.”

ABC-7 could not locate any detour signs pointing drivers to the country club despite the City’s claim that there are supposed to be several signs in place directing traffic to the club.

A City inspector reported the signs were missing from the site when he was there on Wednesday.

The signs will be replaced, according to Martin Bartlett, the City’s construction and engineering department spokesman. He said the City has made concerted efforts to communicate the progress of the project with affected businesses and residents through regular email updates and quarterly meetings.

Khatami disagrees.

“There has been no communication from the City, whatsoever,” Khatami said.

When asked if the City takes responsibility for the claim that the country club is losing business due to the missing detour signs, Bartlett referred ABC-7 to the city attorney’s office.

Bartlett said the project is on schedule and is expected to be complete in Feb. 2015.