Work on Val Vista Drive that began last August has transformed a once-familiar commercial corridor near Southern Avenue into a daily challenge for the small businesses that line the street. The city project, designed to widen the road, install storm drains and add dedicated bike lanes between U.S. 60 and Enid Avenue, has required extensive excavation and lane restrictions. For proprietors who depend on steady foot and drive-by traffic, the disruption has translated into lost customers, missing payroll and an uneasy calculus about whether to remain open while the construction continues.
"It's a mess," said Deanna France, co-owner of Arizona Batting Club, where the roar of bulldozers and the rumble of heavy equipment have become constants that interrupt practice sessions and deter casual visitors. France told reporters that April sales at her business fell by more than $30,000, a shortfall she said is directly tied to the reduced visibility and accessibility created by the ongoing work. She questioned the scope and scheduling of the effort, asking why the roadway could not have been rebuilt in smaller sections to avoid the broad restrictions that have left storefronts effectively hemmed in.
Across the corridor, restaurant owner Omar Karkoutli described a similar pattern of shrinking patronage and rising frustration. Karkoutli, who runs Niro's House, said managers have seen profits decline by as much as 20 percent and that employees are feeling the strain. "They're trying to improve it, but with zero consideration of the small businesses around here," he said, voicing concern that efforts to improve the street will leave workers and shopkeepers grappling with immediate hardships. He noted that officials had told merchants the project would conclude in June, a timetable that many along Val Vista find hard to credit given the project’s scale and the ongoing disturbances.
The project’s stated goals are municipal in nature: to add capacity for vehicles, improve stormwater infrastructure and create safer options for cyclists. City representatives have said that business owners were notified before construction began. But merchants report there has been little direct assistance to offset the losses they say have been severe and sudden. The only formal program cited by owners as available is a municipal loan program; beyond that, questions about grants, temporary signage allowances or targeted marketing assistance have gone unanswered, according to the shopkeepers interviewed.
Not every business has been affected to the same degree, but the pain is widespread. Tamara Salerno, proprietor of Divine Hair Design, estimated her shop has lost roughly 10 percent of its usual business since crews moved in and lane closures went into effect. For hair stylists and service-oriented operations, where appointments and walk-ins make up revenue streams, a decline in visibility or a customer’s unwillingness to navigate obstructed lanes can quickly add up. For those who have seen the largest hits, the option under consideration is a temporary shutdown — a step that owners say would reduce immediate overhead and tax exposure but would come with severe long-term costs in customer attrition and the expense of reopening.
Reopening after a pause is not a trivial decision, merchants warn. When a store or service closes for weeks or months, re-establishing client relationships and regaining the momentum of steady bookings and impulse business can be arduous and expensive. Several business owners expressed concern that patrons who have adjusted their routines may not return even after construction wraps up; some of those customers have already migrated to other parts of town, where access and parking remain straightforward. For employers, the stakes are interpersonal as well as financial: reduced sales can force reductions in hours or staff, imperiling employees' ability to meet household expenses.
Visible along Val Vista, the construction itself is unmistakable: barrels, signs and narrowed lanes now mark stretches of the corridor, creating conditions that are unwelcome to passing motorists and pedestrians alike. Construction barrels and signage along Val Vista Drive in Mesa as ongoing roadwork narrows lanes and disrupts local businesses.
City officials maintain the improvements are intended to serve long-term safety and mobility goals for the area, but the short-term burden has fallen squarely on storefronts that were promised notice, if not direct financial relief. Merchants say communication about the timeline and available resources has not translated into meaningful support, leaving owners to weigh painful choices: endure the lost revenue in the hope that better street infrastructure will eventually bring more customers, or shut down temporarily to cut expenses and risk losing the client base they have spent years building.
As construction continues along the stretch between U.S. 60 and Enid Avenue, the businesses on Val Vista Drive are continuing to tally losses and press for clearer answers on timing and support. Some remain hopeful that the finished project will bring long-term benefits, but the immediate reality for many is a steep drop in commerce and a growing concern for employees and families who depend on steady paychecks. Owners said they will watch the progression of the work closely and evaluate their next steps as the city moves toward completing the improvements outlined when the project began last August.
According to the City of Mesa's official project page, construction on Val Vista Drive is now projected for completion in spring 2027, later than the June target city officials had given merchants. The site notes that gas, water main and electrical improvements in Phase 2 have taken longer than anticipated due to utility conflicts, with asphalt paving operations set to resume in July once those issues are resolved. No further business assistance programs are detailed.
The city lists Granite Construction Company as the project's contractor and says the work is funded through the Arterial Life Cycle Program, 2020 General Obligation Bonds and city transportation funds.
The project page notes that sewer improvements are complete and that overhead-to-underground electrical work has been finished in some locations, even as gas and water main relocations continue to delay other phases.
Merchants seeking updates or to raise concerns are directed to contact Mesa Engineering Public Relations at 480-644-3800 or engineering.info@mesaaz.gov and can sign up for project email alerts on the city's project page.