A road widening project in Yuma is expected to improve the area. But, in the meantime...all the construction and traffic delays are paralyzing some businesses.

With the road construction of 16th Street and Arizona Avenue...business owners are not too happy with all the road blocks surrounding their business.

Yuma Cigar Store owner Sammy can't wait for the road improvements to be completed, "this construction is really affecting us very bad because we are trapped in the middle between the 16th and Arizona."

And, for Sammy's business there are no road openings for his customers to gain access to his business, he doesn't know how he's going to survive. He says "you have to go to the restaurant parking lot and jump the fence to come to us. That's the only way really. We lost 95% from business really. We have no business."

Yuma's growing population is creating a need to improve the area's roadways and increase lanes. City of Yuma's Dave Nash says this can only be done with the cooperation of the community "be patient.. realize it's goin to get better...it may be a little more inconvenient than it was in the past, but it might not be as easy as it might not been easy... And, might not be as fast to go and that 16th Street corridor, but you can get there."

While the construction zone is an inconvenience for many, Chretin's Mexican Restaurant owner is happy that his loyal customers keep coming back. Owner Jim Waits says "for one thing, our food, we got people hooked. They've been coming for years and years. They might four-wheel drive over the barricade to get here."

Good news for this businesss, but others are continuing to struggle. Officials say road improvements are projected to be completed by May 2010. But, add contractors are trying to finish the project as soon as possible, if they don't encounter any problems during the on-going construction.