After months of heavier traffic on alternate roads and lost customers for businesses, part of Cecil Ashburn Drive opened Friday morning.
This is two weeks ahead of schedule and two-way traffic can now go over the mountain. Drivers honked their horns to the construction workers, who waved back. People are really excited about the road opening back up, but it’s still a work zone. It’s not over yet.
“Yay! It’s open! It’s open!” said Colombus Collier who lives in Madison County.
The road opening Friday came as a surprise. The moment was long-awaited by commuters and especially business owners who had been losing customers.
“Victoria Nails will re-welcome everybody back in from the other side of the mountain!” said Victoria Nails Manager Bernard Scott Lee.
They’re hoping it’s all uphill from here.
“Customers keep coming and coming!” said Vickie Tram, owner of A&V Seafood Market. “I didn’t know the road is open today. I say, ‘Oh wow so that’s why the difference.’ This morning I have people just coming and coming!”
“It’s also because it’s cold,” said Anaheim Chili Owner Scott Harriman, who was busy at lunch time. “So we get that combination going.”
More than 17,000 vehicles were driving on Cecil Ashburn Drive every day. Since it closed in January businesses on the Jones Valley side lost a lot of money.
“August to now it’s about 40 percent,” said Tram.
But work is still being done to add two more lanes and safety upgrades. That means people are working around the thousands of cars and police remind you to be extra careful.
“The quicker we can get these roads in where we can use them, the quicker we can achieve the goal that we want to out of them,” said Mayor Tommy Battle. “That’s economy and at transportation system that works.”
And businesses? They’re ready.
“It’s coming,” Harriman said. “I know it’s coming!”
All four of the new lanes are planned to open this May. Check on the road’s progress here.