A month into Valley Drive construction, Las Cruces businesses suffer

A month into the $22.9 million dollar renovation of Valley Drive, west Las Cruces business owners tell ABC-7 their businesses have taken a hit.

“You can see the aisles are empty, the parking lot is half what it should be” said Pete Ramondo, who manages the Save Mart on Valley Drive. “We should have twice as many customers.”

The three-mile construction project will last eighteen months, renovating the state-owned Valley Drive from Picacho Avenue to University Avenue, according to the New Mexico Department of Transportation,

“It is an old road,” said Ami Evans, a spokeswoman for NMDOT. “It’s time for a little makeover.”

Evans said the road was not ADA compliant and had drainage and utility issues. Valley Drive hadn’t been renovated in decades.

“I know it’s necessary and we need it,” Ramondo said. “But it’s also hurting our business… We don’t have any other stores to compensate.”

On Wednesday, the entrance to Save Mart and several other businesses were completely obstructed by a concrete barrier. Ramondo said despite the stress, he has not laid off any of his 45 employees.

“A lot of the customers can’t get in, so they’ll bypass where they’re supposed to go and go to the next place that’s more accessible,” said Benito Gallegos, a customer who prides himself on his “knowledge of the back roads in Las Cruces.”

The construction is frustrating for seasonal businesses like Caliche’s, who rely on the warm summer months to serve frozen custard.

“I noticed we started slowing down during the day drastically,” said Nick Bustamante, who works at Caliche’s. “It’s made a big impact. It feels like we’re in our winter hours.”

A month ahead of hunting season, Harry Stryker of Strykers Shooting World worries the construction will affect his busiest time of year, as well.

“If I were a person that didn’t need to come to Valley, I probably would try to avoid it,” Stryker said. “Most of my customers are complaining about it.”